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Epilepsy and cannabis in South Carolina

The state explicitly lists this condition under its medical cannabis program. A certifying physician can pursue state registration for a patient with this diagnosis under the program rules.

Listed qualifying condition
✓ Yes
LEGAL
CBD oil with low THC fo…
POSSESSION
$0/yr
STATE FEE
7–30 d
TIMELINE
Listed qualifying condition. The state explicitly lists this condition under its medical cannabis program. A certifying physician can pursue state registration for a patient with this diagnosis under the program rules.

South Carolina statute and program

The South Carolina Julian's Law (CBD oil only, severe epilepsy) is the operating authority for South Carolina patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: SC Code Ann. § 44-53 (Controlled Substances).

What the evidence says about cannabis and Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder defined by recurrent unprovoked seizures. The condition affects an estimated 3.4 million Americans. Most patients respond to anti-seizure medications, but approximately one-third develop treatment-resistant epilepsy that fails two or more first-line drugs.

For the full evidence base, including the NASEM tier, randomized trial summaries, and symptom-domain breakdown, read the mmjnow Epilepsy page.

How to qualify in South Carolina

The South Carolina Julian's Law (CBD oil only, severe epilepsy) requires the following registration steps for a Epilepsy patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):

  1. Obtain a written certification for severe epilepsy under Julian’s Law. South Carolina operates a narrow CBD oil authorization under Julian’s Law (Senate Bill 1035 of 2014, codified at S.C. Code §44-53-1810). The authorization covers only severe epilepsy. A South Carolina-licensed physician — typically a neurologist — must provide a written certification that the patient has been diagnosed with a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that produces severe or persistent seizures, and that the patient may benefit from the use of low-THC CBD oil.
  2. Possession is an affirmative defense; no state registry. South Carolina does not maintain a state patient registry under Julian’s Law. The physician’s written certification combined with the patient’s in-state proof of residency provides an affirmative defense against possession charges for low-THC CBD oil. The Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) does not issue patient identification cards under §44-53-1810.
  3. No state registration fee. South Carolina charges no state patient registration fee, because there is no patient registry. The patient bears only the cost of the physician evaluation and the cost of CBD product obtained through legal channels (typically out-of-state cannabis programs or federally compliant hemp-derived CBD).
  4. Obtain CBD oil from out of state or federally compliant hemp channels. Registered Julian’s Law patients possess CBD oil obtained from out-of-state cannabis programs or from federally compliant hemp-derived CBD products (THC ≤0.3% by weight under the 2018 Farm Bill). South Carolina does not authorize in-state cannabis dispensaries, in-state cultivation, or higher-THC products. South Carolina does not honor out-of-state medical cards for any broader cannabis use. Adult-use cannabis remains illegal in South Carolina; the Compassionate Care Act (S 423) repeatedly passed the SC Senate but has not been enacted as of 2025.
State registration fee
$0
Physician visit (typical)
$200–$400
Certification to card
7–30 days
Out-of-state patients
Not eligible
Minors
Eligible with caregiver

For full South Carolina registration steps, fees, and reciprocity rules, see the South Carolina cannabis-laws page.

ICD-10 code

A certifying physician documenting Epilepsy for the South Carolina medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 G40.909 or SNOMED-CT 84757009 in the patient's record. The state registry does not itself collect ICD-10 codes in most programs, but the physician's chart is the audit trail if the certification is later reviewed.

Frequently asked questions

Does South Carolina list Epilepsy as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

Yes. South Carolina explicitly lists Epilepsy as a qualifying condition under South Carolina Julian's Law (CBD oil only, severe epilepsy). A patient with a documented Epilepsy diagnosis can pursue state-program certification with a physician registered in the state. The qualifying-condition list is set by state statute or regulation and may change. Inclusion on the list does not guarantee certification — a physician still has to evaluate the patient and decide that medical cannabis is appropriate for that specific case under South Carolina rules.

How do I get a South Carolina medical marijuana card for Epilepsy?

Step one is finding a physician licensed in South Carolina who is registered with South Carolina Julian's Law (CBD oil only, severe epilepsy) and willing to evaluate Epilepsy cases. Step two is collecting your records (diagnosis documentation, treatment history, and the ICD-10 code your physician will use) and bringing them to the certification visit. Step three is the physician's certification through the state registry, followed by the patient registration application, state fee, and waiting period before the card is issued. South Carolina does not honor out-of-state cards, so the certification process has to originate inside the state. Verify the patient minimum age with the state program before applying. Confirm the current process with the state regulator before applying, because the rules change.

What does the evidence say about cannabis for Epilepsy?

For Epilepsy, evidence is described as strong (e.g. multiple randomized controlled trials or systematic reviews supporting effect). The mmjnow condition page for Epilepsy lays out the current evidence base, including the citations underlying that evidence tier — typically the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consensus reports, federal agency guidance, and peer-reviewed reviews. Evidence quality is independent of state law: a state can list a condition for which evidence is limited, and a state can decline to list a condition for which evidence is strong. Patients deciding whether to pursue medical cannabis for Epilepsy should review the underlying evidence (linked on the condition page) and discuss expected benefit, dosing, and risk with a clinician familiar with both Epilepsy and cannabinoid pharmacology. Cannabis is not a substitute for evidence-based first-line treatments for Epilepsy; the evidence position above describes whether trial data supports its use, not whether it should replace standard care.

Sources

  1. Senate Bill 1035 (2014): Julian's Lawaccessed May 16, 2026
  2. SC Code Ann. § 44-53 (Controlled Substances)accessed May 16, 2026
  3. Wikipedia: Cannabis in South Carolinaaccessed May 16, 2026
  4. SC Code §44-53-370: Prohibited acts; penalties (controlled substances)accessed May 17, 2026
  5. South Carolina Department of Agriculture: Hemp Farming Programaccessed May 17, 2026
  6. NORML: South Carolina Lawsaccessed May 17, 2026
  7. NASEM: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2017)accessed May 15, 2026

    “Conclusive or substantial evidence that oral cannabidiol is effective for the treatment of certain epilepsy syndromes.”

  8. FDA: Epidiolex (cannabidiol) prescribing informationaccessed May 15, 2026
  9. NIH NCCIH: Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoidsaccessed May 15, 2026