No Deal Yet: South Carolina lawmakers deadlocked on hemp regulation

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - After months of debate, South Carolina lawmakers remain deeply divided on how to regulate hemp, leaving the future of the billion‑dollar industry unsettled as the legislative session moves closer to adjournment.

Members of both chambers agree that the state’s hemp market is largely unregulated and poses problems, particularly when it comes to youth access. But efforts to agree on a comprehensive solution have repeatedly stalled.

On Wednesday, the House rejected the Senate’s proposed regulatory framework.

In March, the Senate passed legislation that would allow retail sales of hemp beverages containing up to five milligrams of THC, but only if those products are kept behind the counter. Higher‑potency hemp drinks and gummies would be restricted to liquor stores under the proposal.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R‑Edgefield, said the bill fell short of what some lawmakers wanted but offered a meaningful step toward regulation.

“It’s not as strong as I’d like it to be candidly, but I do think we came up with a strong regulatory framework that will protect children, which is a real problem,” Massey said.

House lawmakers, however, rejected that approach Wednesday, opting instead to advance a bill that both limits hemp product use to those 21 and older, and bans most hemp products. A move lawmakers acknowledged was designed to force negotiations between the two chambers.

Lawmakers openly acknowledged that the bill contains conflicting provisions, that contradiction, supporters said, was intentional.

Rep. Gil Gatch, R‑Dorchester, was not in favor of the House passed bill, or the Senate version, and argued the priority this year should be preventing children from accessing hemp products — even if broader regulatory questions are delayed.

“Today we need to make it illegal for kids to get this stuff,” Gatch said. He added that more complex issues such as taxation and detailed regulation could be addressed in a future session.

The measure is expected to head to a conference committee, where three House members and three senators will attempt to reconcile the competing proposals and draft a compromise bill.

Rep. Jay Jordan, R‑Florence, said the House wanted to give negotiators as much flexibility as possible.

“Again, maximum flexibility and latitude for conference,” Jordan said.

Massey cautioned that passing an age restriction without broader oversight would fail to address key public safety concerns.

“That leaves it unregulated and means it can be sold anywhere — any type of concentration can be sold,” Massey said. “You’re not doing anything as far as the DUI component to it. That’s not really addressing the core problems.”

With nearly four months of the legislative session complete, lawmakers have yet to settle on a final path forward for hemp regulation. Despite hours of testimony and days of debate, the issue remains unresolved.

A conference committee could meet as soon as next week. Until then, the future of hemp products in South Carolina remains unclear.

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