COLUMBIA, S.C. — A Republican lawmaker's attempt to stall a bipartisan-backed bill to legalize certain forms of marijuana for medical use failed as the proposal was advanced Thursday by the state House's only Democratic-majority committee.
The Senate-approved bill now goes to the full House and, if approved, would make South Carolina the 38th state to legalize medical marijuana. The measure, approved by the Medical, Military Public and Municipal Affairs Committee by a 15-3 vote, will not need significant bipartisan support to pass because the Senate passed the legislation well before this week's "crossover" deadline. The House is off next week for furlough, so it's not immediately clear when the lawmakers will debate the bill. The legislative session ends in early May.
"Anytime as a legislative body we can do something to help people, we ought to give that every consideration," said state Rep. Wendy Brawley, D-Richland.
