The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) is required to procure medical grade marijuana and distribute it to Palmetto State residents with glaucoma and other “chronic ailments” – or at least that’s what an obscure 1980 state statute uncovered this week by FITS maintains.
Amazing, huh?
Unfortunately for potheads, SCDHEC doesn’t seem “down” with the notion of becoming a taxpayer-subsidized drug dealer.
According to a fiscal impact report prepared by the agency – and obtained exclusively by FITS – there are some staggering costs associated with operating a government-run drug ring. How staggering? Nearly half a billion dollars a year ($474,540,698, to be exact).
And that’s apparently a lowball figure …
“Please note the half a billion dollar fiscal impact … is a minimum and if additional populations are covered, which is contemplated under the statute, the cost will rise accordingly,” the agency document noted. “Please also note that there is a federal criminal penalty for administering this statute.”
Damn …
(Click to play)
Bummer …
FITS uncovered the medical marijuana statute this week. In fact we located it shortly before S.C. minority leader Todd Rutherford (D-Columbia) announced his support for a government-run pot farming, harvesting and distribution operation aimed at helping residents who suffer from a broad range of ailments.
We love the bud (obviously) – but reject Rutherford’s approach.
“We oppose any unnecessary government intervention in the free market – especially a portion of the market it is unnecessarily criminalizing,” we wrote. “South Carolina should absolutely ‘spread love with the bud,’ but that process should not be regulated (and certainly shouldn’t be controlled) by government.”
Sources tell FITS Rutherford is working on a separate piece of pot legislation which may be more to our liking, though … so we’ll stay tuned for that.
SCDHEC FISCAL IMPACT REPORT (.pdf)
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35 comments
Drug addicts will pay…it’s WHY they’re drug addicts…
How much do you pay for an oz.?
If I were a head, I’d buy buy the pound…no an O.Z.
$400 an oz. for the kind bud…
God bless Rutherford, I’ll have to send him a note. It’s hard enough to deal with cancer treatment, and the discomfort itself is its own form of agony. You reach a point in the misery where you’ll do anything possible to ease your pain and discomfort. I’ll be letting my oncologist know about this.
Works for my condition!
I hope you have luck with it, my sister has stage 4 breast cancer- they subscribed her Merinol – big pharma medical – made her so sick, – so now its the pain killers that are terrible for you – especailly when your body is already fighting so hard! Best wishes to you in your fight! Hopefully SC will wake up to the truth.
God bless Rutherford, I’ll have to send him a note. It’s hard enough to deal with cancer treatment, and the discomfort itself is its own form of agony. You reach a point in the misery where you’ll do anything possible to ease your pain and discomfort. I’ll be letting my oncologist know about this.
Works for my condition!
I hope you have luck with it, my sister has stage 4 breast cancer- they subscribed her Merinol – big pharma medical – made her so sick, – so now its the pain killers that are terrible for you – especailly when your body is already fighting so hard! Best wishes to you in your fight! Hopefully SC will wake up to the truth.
I been smokin’ dope 3 times a day for the last 20 years…and I ain’t hooked…
Yeah? Watch what happens when you try to take away someone’s cup of joe.
You act like you smokin’ crack.
I was thinking meth, but I like your theory too, nit.
I thought this was a well known state law but its just been ignored forever. And half a billion? I would love to see that break down.
Yeah, I’d love to see the break down, too. What administrative costs does that figure entail?
Click the link to the report. The biggest portion of the cost is from the state actually buying the drug for patients.
Ok, see that now. They used a price of 350 per ounce which according to http://www.priceofweed.com/ is the street price for high quality. I imagine legal growing would be much much cheaper. I don’t smoke myself by 3 ounces a month also seems high as hell
I thought this was a well known state law but its just been ignored forever. And half a billion? I would love to see that break down.
Yeah, I’d love to see the break down, too. What administrative costs does that figure entail?
Click the link to the report. The biggest portion of the cost is from the state actually buying the drug for patients.
Ok, see that now. They used a price of 350 per ounce which according to http://www.priceofweed.com/ is the street price for high quality. I imagine legal growing would be much much cheaper. I don’t smoke myself by 3 ounces a month also seems high as hell
Who says this blog is not spiritual? That’s a photograph of heaven right there.
I’d hit that.
Who says this blog is not spiritual? That’s a photograph of heaven right there.
I’d hit that.
No need to have government grow weed, let the free market handle it. I mean, damn, why spend money to make pot when you can let others do it for you (and rake in tax dollars from it too)?
I’d use the term “no-brainer,” but that would be insensitive to our brainless politicians.
No need to have government grow weed, let the free market handle it. I mean, damn, why spend money to make pot when you can let others do it for you (and rake in tax dollars from it too)?
I’d use the term “no-brainer,” but that would be insensitive to our brainless politicians.
What a conciliatory thread. Thanks fellas, for the good vibrations! See, we can all agree on some things.
Too bad politics divide us at times; but yeah, I like when two sides can agree in a logical way what’s fair and just.
What a conciliatory thread. Thanks fellas, for the good vibrations! See, we can all agree on some things.
Too bad politics divide us at times; but yeah, I like when two sides can agree in a logical way what’s fair and just.