Surfside Beach planning commissioners plan to propose a ban on medical marijuana within town limits if it becomes legal in South Carolina.
Some Surfside planning commissioners hope the town will take advantage of the amendment to the proposed Compassionate Care Act that allows local governments to prohibit medical marijuana within its ordinances.
Should the bill pass, South Carolina residents could possess up to two ounces of non-smokable cannabis approved by a qualifying doctor. The substance would take the form of oil, salves, patches or vaporizers.
Eligible users include those with a “debilitating disease,” according to the bill. Qualifying illnesses include cancer, multiple sclerosis, neurological disorders, terminal illnesses and conditions that have been treated with opioids.
The proposal has passed the Senate and is awaiting a decision from the House, according to scstatehouse.gov.
If Surfside Beach town council votes to ban medical cannabis, then its residents would not reap the benefits of the bill if passed.
Surfside Police Chief Kenneth Hofmann came to the March 1 planning commission meeting and voiced his opposition to the bill and his hope that Surfside would opt out.
Using data from 36 states and the District of Columbia, all of which allow the use of medical marijuana, Hofmann warned the commissioners of a possible rise in crime.
Hofmann was one of the South Carolina citizens who signed a letter to state Sens. Stephen Goldfinch, Greg Hembree, Luke Rankin, Ronnie Sabb and Kent Williams urging them to vote against the Bill.
“The Horry and Georgetown County areas are known for welcoming millions of tourists each year and serving our strong communities,” the letter read. “Our communities focus their efforts on providing a welcoming and safe environment for visitors and all community members. This bill is not how it is done. It provides a platform and a gateway for other serious drugs. In addition, we already know that every state (that) has legalized marijuana for recreational use, they first legalized medical marijuana.”
Facebook comments on the topic were listed in the April 5 agenda at surfsidebeach.org.
Most of the comments pasted into the agenda voiced opposition to the possibility of Surfside banning medical cannabis.
“Why wouldn’t SSB want this,” resident Blake E. Davis wrote. “[A]ll natural instead of narcotics? And think of the revenue stream per tax. If I was SSB, I would embrace this.”
Resident Kent O’Shields agreed, writing: “Typical Surfside trying to keep their thumb on the residents. I agree with the above, may as well shut down pharmacies and bars. Yes, let’s make it hard on people already suffering from debilitating diseases.”
Should the bill eventually get to South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster’s desk, it could take effect upon his signature or at the start of the fiscal year.
“I would think that they wouldn’t put it in until July 1 of 2023,” state Rep. Tim McGinnis said. “I really don’t know how I am going to vote on it. It might come down to that day, and I am just going to vote my conscience.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read more at: https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article260518962.html#storylink=cpy
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