SC

SC Government: Spreading Love With The Bud

Do you suffer from “glaucoma?” Or some form of chronic pain? If so, then the state of South Carolina is required to procure marijuana for you. And give it to you free of charge. Seriously … there’s a little-known state law instructing the director of the S.C. Department of Health…

Do you suffer from “glaucoma?” Or some form of chronic pain? If so, then the state of South Carolina is required to procure marijuana for you. And give it to you free of charge.

Seriously … there’s a little-known state law instructing the director of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to “obtain and distribute” marijuana to the people of South Carolina in a manner that “he” deems appropriate. That gender-specific reference is ironic, obviously, because the current director of SCDHEC – and potentially the biggest pot dealer from here to Gardenia – is a “she,” Catherine Templeton.

Anyway … when a pair of state lawmakers approached us with this tip we figured they were playing a joke.

Then we uncovered this statutory language …

SECTION 44-53-650. (SCDHEC) Director to obtain and distribute marijuana. 

(a) The director shall obtain marijuana through whatever means he deems most appropriate consistent with federal law. 

(b) The director shall cause such analyzed marijuana to be transferred to various locations throughout the State that provide adequate security as set forth in federal and state regulations for the purpose of distributing such marijuana to the certified patient in such manner as is consistent with federal law. The patient shall not be required to pay for such marijuana but the director may charge for ancillary medical services provided by the department to compensate the department for the cost, if any, of securing such marijuana, and providing it to the patient. 

Wow …

This “pot dealing” law originated in 1980 under Democratic Gov. Dick Riley – and was amended in 1993 under Republican Gov. Carroll Campbell.

Why do we bring this unknown statutory provision up now? Because according to multiple Democratic sources in the S.C. House of Representatives, S.C. minority leader Todd Rutherford is preparing legislation that would dramatically ramp up the production and distribution of medical marijuana in South Carolina – using this law as his basis for doing so.

According to these source, Rutherford’s bill will include government subsidies for South Carolina farmers to grow weed – as well as establishing system for regulating its distribution and handling any revenues it generates.

Translation? Like gambling … government wants to impose a monopoly on drug dealing, too.

Naturally, we oppose any unnecessary government intervention in the free market – especially a portion of the market it is unnecessarily criminalizing. South Carolina should absolutely “spread love with the bud,” but that process should not be regulated (and certainly shouldn’t be controlled) by government.

Incidentally, Templeton wasn’t immediately available to comment regarding the possibility of her assuming the role of “Big Worm” (a.k.a. “Big Perm”) in the Palmetto State. Of course that’s not surprising seeing as our founding editor’s official inquiry to her office was as follows: “Madame director, Are you holding?”

UPDATE: Seriously people? Sheesh … “Are you holding?” is colloquial for “are you in possession of any drugs that I might be able to procure for a mutually agreed upon price?”

***

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FITSForum

43 comments

Smirks May 22, 2013 at 11:02 am

Hey, there’s a way we can get the feds to raid and investigate our state agencies, just get them to distribute weed.

Reply
Chesterfield County Resident May 23, 2013 at 2:27 pm

Local LE here in Chesterfield County has been distributing weed (and more) for years now.

Reply
Smirks May 22, 2013 at 11:02 am

Hey, there’s a way we can get the feds to raid and investigate our state agencies, just get them to distribute weed.

Reply
Chesterfield County Resident May 23, 2013 at 2:27 pm

Local LE here in Chesterfield County has been distributing weed (and more) for years now.

Reply
GrandTango May 22, 2013 at 11:12 am

One thing is Clear: FITS is about as qualified (or talented) to make law as he is to practice journalism. And FITS cannot stand the fact that his qualifications so limit him…

Reply
Will Folks aka Sic May 22, 2013 at 11:18 am

GT,

How’s the West Columbia unemployment line treating you? ;)

Reply
Nölff May 22, 2013 at 11:27 am

Good morning, T.

Reply
Kook May 22, 2013 at 12:08 pm

Speaking of grass…why don’t you mow some?

Reply
Thomas May 22, 2013 at 12:51 pm

Almost there GT. Getting Adobe’s CS5.5 and thinking of domain names. I will drop an email to you here after July 4th…time to get the conservative web site up and running. No sense hanging around here…there is work to be done…and money to make.

Reply
Smirks May 22, 2013 at 2:00 pm

Damn, noonecares.com is already taken.

Reply
Sex Wax May 22, 2013 at 2:14 pm

LMAO! I wonder if they’ll just copy and paste from Drudge?

Reply
2big2fall May 23, 2013 at 7:24 am

Sounds like he is working on a good thing. I will be sure to put a link on my new website below…

Doobster May 22, 2013 at 11:19 am

Where do we apply?

Reply
Doobster May 22, 2013 at 11:19 am

Where do we apply?

Reply
Mongo May 22, 2013 at 11:21 am

It says: “…consistent with federal law.” Obtaining the substance in question is inconsistent with federal law as federal law classifies it as Schedule I, making it illegal to possess under any circumstances. The statute is a nullity. And where did I get my law degree? USC School of Law, 1996.

This statement does not constitute legal advice or create any attorney-client relationship. Seriously.

Reply
Doobster May 22, 2013 at 12:01 pm

That’s called gov’t double talk! Looks what we past, shh don’t tell anyone it doesn’t mean shit!

Reply
Mongo May 22, 2013 at 11:21 am

It says: “…consistent with federal law.” Obtaining the substance in question is inconsistent with federal law as federal law classifies it as Schedule I, making it illegal to possess under any circumstances. The statute is a nullity. And where did I get my law degree? USC School of Law, 1996.

This statement does not constitute legal advice or create any attorney-client relationship. Seriously.

Reply
Doobster May 22, 2013 at 12:01 pm

That’s called gov’t double talk! Looks what we past, shh don’t tell anyone it doesn’t mean shit!

Reply
southmauldin May 22, 2013 at 11:58 am

My neighbor called the police one time when she thought my japanese maples were reefer. It was comical.
Why in the hell is marijuana illegal anyway? My Mom is 86 and in chronic pain. I’m about to buy her a bag to help her with the pain.

Reply
dwb619 May 22, 2013 at 12:22 pm

My darling bride brought home a small house plant(she thought0 from Kroger, years ago. After it grew from a few inches to about a foot and a half, it caught my interest. Very familiar leaf pattern. She found the little description tag that was with it originally—“cannabius pretendus”.
It eventually became to large for the house and was moved to front porch, where it garnered a lot of attention from street traffic.Alas, we finally got rid of it after my bud, chief of police in next town, told me they and the county had recieved several calls.

Reply
Smirks May 22, 2013 at 1:58 pm

Why in the hell is marijuana illegal anyway?

Because it is profitable to people who spend big bucks lobbying to keep it that way.

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell May 22, 2013 at 8:02 pm

I know what you mean. I’ve seen ornamental plants that really took a double take.

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell May 22, 2013 at 8:05 pm

I meant this in response to dwb619

Reply
southmauldin May 22, 2013 at 11:58 am

My neighbor called the police one time when she thought my japanese maples were reefer. It was comical.
Why in the hell is marijuana illegal anyway? My Mom is 86 and in chronic pain. I’m about to buy her a bag to help her with the pain.

Reply
dwb619 May 22, 2013 at 12:22 pm

My darling bride brought home a small house plant(she thought0 from Kroger, years ago. After it grew from a few inches to about a foot and a half, it caught my interest. Very familiar leaf pattern. She found the little description tag that was with it originally—“cannabius pretendus”.
It eventually became to large for the house and was moved to front porch, where it garnered a lot of attention from street traffic.Alas, we finally got rid of it after my bud, chief of police in next town, told me they and the county had recieved several calls.

Reply
Smirks May 22, 2013 at 1:58 pm

Why in the hell is marijuana illegal anyway?

Because it is profitable to people who spend big bucks lobbying to keep it that way.

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell May 22, 2013 at 8:02 pm

I know what you mean. I’ve seen ornamental plants that really took a double take.

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell May 22, 2013 at 8:05 pm

I meant this in response to dwb619

Reply
MGTT May 22, 2013 at 1:32 pm

Pay attention: read 44-53-630 first. It limits marijauna distribution to cancer and glaucoma patients only, and only when other medical treatments aren’t working.

Reply
MGTT May 22, 2013 at 1:32 pm

Pay attention: read 44-53-630 first. It limits marijauna distribution to cancer and glaucoma patients only, and only when other medical treatments aren’t working.

Reply
Adinosaur May 22, 2013 at 2:14 pm

This is apparently a good revenue stream for the infamous Don,t Have Enough Cash ( DHEC) Agency to provide funds to dig up the hundreds of USTs (Underground Storage Tanks)
leaking all those great hydrocarbons into ground water since the 1980s. Of course this could be used to provide more freebies such as medicaid for those who will get the stuff cheaper and can graduate to CRACK.

Adinosaur

Reply
Adinosaur May 22, 2013 at 2:14 pm

This is apparently a good revenue stream for the infamous Don,t Have Enough Cash ( DHEC) Agency to provide funds to dig up the hundreds of USTs (Underground Storage Tanks)
leaking all those great hydrocarbons into ground water since the 1980s. Of course this could be used to provide more freebies such as medicaid for those who will get the stuff cheaper and can graduate to CRACK.

Adinosaur

Reply
Bill Clinton May 22, 2013 at 6:35 pm

Sic, nice pic of your back yard!

Reply
Bill Clinton May 22, 2013 at 6:35 pm

Sic, nice pic of your back yard!

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell May 22, 2013 at 8:50 pm

I’m trying to think which Clemson ag station would be the best one to grow it at.

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell May 22, 2013 at 8:50 pm

I’m trying to think which Clemson ag station would be the best one to grow it at.

Reply

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