South Carolina lawmakers failed to pass a bill regulating hemp-derived THC products during the final days of the legislative session. The House rejected a conference committee compromise on June 25, killing the legislation for the year. This action prevented the bill from reaching the governor’s desk for signature.
The proposed compromise would have banned the sale of hemp products to anyone under 21. Drinks containing up to five milligrams of THC could only be sold behind the counter at licensed grocery and convenience stores. Drinks with five to 10 milligrams of THC, along with gummies, would be restricted to liquor stores.
Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey told reporters on June 25 that the debates on DUI laws and THC bills were intertwined.
Sen. Russell Ott, D-Calhoun, warned that without the new law, the status quo remains dangerous for minors. He said, “If it doesn’t get adopted, then we are back at status quo, which means 14, 15, 16-year-old kids can walk into a gas station that chooses to sell this product to those kids.”
Opponents of the restrictions argued the rules would hurt businesses and consumers who use hemp products as an alternative to alcohol. Sen. Ed Sutton, D-Charleston, noted that restaurant owners prefer customers to drink these products because they behave better versus alcohol.
Legislators left the Statehouse last week with no plans to return until the next legislative session begins in January. This marks the end of the second year of a two-year legislative session. Any bill not passed before voters approve a new Legislature in November must start over completely in 2027.
House-Senate panels had worked out compromises that failed to win approval from the full chambers when legislators briefly returned in June. The chamber could have taken related bills up again last Tuesday when legislators returned to vote on the state budget. However, senators decided to wait to hammer out a better proposal, according to Massey.
Stephen Burritt, regional executive director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said the state’s situation won’t change until the law changes. He noted that South Carolina had the highest number of deaths caused by drunken driving per 100 million miles driven in 2024. Lawmakers will take a shot at the legislation next year.
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