2,000 acres of hemp were grown in South Carolina in 2019.
South Carolina began licensing hemp farmers for the first time in 2018. On this page you will find South Carolina hemp law along with a history of how South Carolina hemp bills have progressed through the State capitol over the years. We also provide links to important information concerning South Carolina hemp programs and state agency advisories or opinion letters.
South Carolina Department of Agriculture hemp program
USDA approved South Carolina state hemp plan
2019
H 3449
An act to amend CHAPTER 55, TITLE 46, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to industrial hemp cultivation. Removes references to South Carolina Industrial Hemp Program, defines terms, to prohibit the cultivation, processing and handling of hemp without a state license and to provide certain requirements for a hemp license. To provide that the commissioner of the South Carolina Department of Agriculture submit a plan the USDA.
POSITION: Support
STATUS: Signed into law by Gov. McMaster on March 28, 2019
S 384
Repeals Chapter 55, Title 46 of the 1976 code, relating to the cultivation of industrial hemp, upon the USDA’s approval of the state department of agriculture’s industrial hemp plan.
POSITION: Support
2017
H 3559
South Carolina bill H 3559 summary: To Provide A Definition For The Term “human Consumption”, To Create The South Carolina Industrial Hemp Program, To Provide That Industrial Hemp Is An Agricultural Crop Upon Which An Institution Of Higher Education May Conduct Research, To Provide That Industrial Hemp Or Hemp Products May Not Be Considered An Adulterant, To Provide Provisions That Regulate The Growing, Selling, And Importation Of Industrial Hemp And Hemp Seed, To Delete The Provision That Excludes Industrial Hemp From The Definition Of Marijuana, To Revise The Provision That Specifies That Certain Conduct Regarding The Manufacturing, Distribution, Purchase, And Other Activities Relating To Disguising Marijuana To Make It Appear To Be Industrial Hemp, And To Provide For Laboratory Testing Of Industrial Hemp.
Position: Support
Status: Signed by Governor McMaster on May 10, 2017
2015
S. 559
To amend chapter 55, Title 46, code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the cultivation of industrial hemp, so as to provide a definition to the terms “DIVISION” and “GROWER”, and to provide a proceedure to license and regulate a person or business that engages in the production of industrial hemp.
STATUS: Died in committee
2013 – 2014
S. 839
To amend Title 46 of the 1976 Code, relating to agriculture, by adding Chapter 55 concerning industrial hemp; to provide that it is lawful to grow industrial hemp in this state; to clarify that industrial hemp is excluded from the definition of marijuana; to prohibit growing industrial hemp and marijuana on the same property or otherwise growing marijuana in close proximity to industrial hemp to disguise the marijuana growth; and to define necessary terms.
STATUS: Signed into law by Governor Haley on 6/2/14
2007 – 2008
H 3305
A Joint Resolution to create a committee to study the beneficial uses of industrial hemp, to provide for the study committee’s membership, and to require that the study committee report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly before January 15, 2008, at which time the study committee is abolished. Introduced in the House and read for the first time on 1/17/07. Recalled from Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs and referred to Committee on Judiciary