Frequently Asked Questions for Medical Marijuana

The South Carolina Department of Health will approve a number of qualifying conditions that will allow patients to access medical marijuana in South Carolina. The qualifying conditions that will be eligible for medical marijuana treatment in South Carolina should include a number of chronic or debilitating conditions.

A South Carolina medical marijuana card will show that your name is a part of the South Carolina Medical Marijuana Registry. With this card, you will be able to:

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1. Buy marijuana from dispensaries in the State of South Carolina

2. Possess marijuana and marijuana products in South Carolina

3. Consume marijuana and marijuana products in South Carolina

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A South Carolina medical marijuana card will be a personal identification card identifying you as a South Carolina registered Medical Marijuana Patient.

We do not yet know the qualifying conditions, however, we can assume that you may be eligible for medical marijuana treatment in South Carolina if you suffer from the following:

• Cancer

• Crohn’s Disease

• Epilepsy

• Glaucoma

• HIV/AIDS

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Parkinson’s

• PTSD

• Other Debilitating Condition of Like, Kind, Or Class

Additionally, South Carolina may allow medical marijuana doctors to recommend patients for medical marijuana treatment after diagnosing them with “other debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class.” These conditions may include:

• Anorexia

• Anxiety

• Arthritis

• Back Pain

• Cachexia

• Diabetes

• Hepatitis C

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Lyme Disease

• Migraine

• Muscle Spasms

• Muscular Dystrophy

• Other conditions that result in traumatic stress

• Severe & Chronic Pain

• Severe Nausea

• Sickle Cell Anemia

• Spasticity​

To obtain your medical marijuana card in South Carolina, you will have to have one (or more) of the qualifying conditions and have medical records documenting your condition(s). Next, you will need to schedule an appointment to meet with a certified physician to get a recommendation for medical marijuana treatment. Our staff here at South Carolina Marijuana Card is here to simplify the process, connecting you with a certified doctor and filing all your necessary paperwork!

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Once you receive your written recommendation, you will submit an application to the South Carolina Department of Health to obtain your card

We can’t guarantee approval for anyone, as the doctor is the only person that makes the determination whether or not a patient qualifies. To make it more likely that you receive approval from the doctor, we recommend that you bring as much information as possible to your appointment regarding your medical condition and past treatments.

Once you submit your application to the South Carolina Department of Health, it may take 7-21 business days to process. Once your application is approved, you will receive your card.

Some doctors charge an exorbitant amount of money just for an initial examination. We feel strongly that if you qualify for medical marijuana, you shouldn't have trouble accessing it due to cost. As such, we offer a variety of payment methods, including monthly payment plan options and discounts for veterans, as well as referral discounts to those who spread the word about our services. After the first appointment, all required follow-ups are free for 12 months.

No. When your card expires, you will not be able to purchase any product from a dispensary until your card is renewed.

Once you have obtained a recommendation from a registered doctor and received your South Carolina Medical Marijuana Card, you will be able to purchase medical cannabis products at any of the licensed dispensaries located throughout South Carolina.

Yes. All patients must purchase products from a licensed South Carolina medical marijuana dispensary.

We encourage you to contact your insurance provider or Medicaid official for an answer. However, we are not aware of any insurance providers that cover the costs of medical marijuana at present.

Caregivers are individuals who may visit dispensaries and purchase medical marijuana products on behalf of a patient. All caregivers must first register with the South Carolina Medical Marijuana Use Registry before accessing dispensaries.

In order to become a caregiver for a patient, you must apply through the South Carolina Medical Marijuana Use Registry. Caregivers must also complete a caregiver certification course by the South Carolina Department of Health.

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Additional requirements for becoming a caregiver include:

• A caregiver must be 21 years of age or older.

• A caregiver cannot be a qualified physician.

• A caregiver cannot be employed within any industry that could benefit economically from the activities on behalf of the patient such as a medical marijuana treatment center or marijuana testing laboratory.

• If caregivers are not close relatives to the patient, a background check may also be required.

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A qualified medical marijuana patient may designate no more than one caregiver, unless:

• The patient is a minor and the caregivers are parents or legal guardians of the patient;

• The patient is an adult who has an intellectual or developmental disability that prevents the patient from being able to care for himself or herself without assistance or supervision and the designated caregivers are the parents or legal guardians of the qualified patient; or

• The patient is admitted to a hospice program.

Unfortunately, the answer is yes, they can. South Carolina does not provide protection to medical marijuana patients from employee drug testing. It will be left to the discretion of each employer whether they wish to recognize an employee's medical marijuana approval as an exemption to company drug testing policies. However, employers are prohibited from discriminating against an individual in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment based on an individual’s past or present status as a caregiver or a qualifying patient.

Once you've been approved by a certified doctor and received a medical marijuana recommendation, you will need to submit an application along with a $75 processing fee to the South Carolina Department of Health in order to receive your marijuana card. This card will expire after 12 months.

Based on the laws in other states that have medical marijuana programs, there most likely will be specific limits as to how much marijuana can be purchased by a patient.

No, South Carolina medical marijuana patients are prohibited from growing medical marijuana at home under South Carolina law. All medical marijuana is required to be purchased from one of the state-approved dispensary locations.

The privacy of our patients is our top priority. We go to great lengths to ensure that all patient information is protected and kept confidential in our HIPAA-compliant file storage system. We will also never share any of your contact information with any third party.