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Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) and cannabis in South Carolina

The state currently does not list this condition as qualifying, and the program does not provide open-ended physician discretion to add conditions. Verify with the state regulator, because programs change.

Not on the qualifying list
✗ No
LEGAL
CBD oil with low THC fo…
POSSESSION
$0/yr
STATE FEE
7–30 d
TIMELINE
Not on the qualifying list. The state currently does not list this condition as qualifying, and the program does not provide open-ended physician discretion to add conditions. Verify with the state regulator, because programs change.

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 Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly called lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces autoantibodies that attack the body's own tissues. Inflammation can affect joints, skin, kidneys, blood, lungs, heart, and the nervous system. Lupus is a relapsing-remitting disease — patients experience flares and periods of relative quiescence.

For the full evidence base, including the NASEM tier, randomized trial summaries, and symptom-domain breakdown, read the mmjnow Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) 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 Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) 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 Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) for the South Carolina medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 M32.9 or SNOMED-CT 55464009 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 Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

No. South Carolina's qualifying-condition list does not currently include Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), and the state's program does not give physicians open-ended discretion to add conditions outside the list. Patients with Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) in South Carolina have limited in-state pathways under the medical program as written. Options to verify and pursue include: petitioning the state regulator to add the condition (where the statute permits public petitions); consulting a physician about whether a co-occurring listed condition could support certification; or reviewing whether the state's program is undergoing legislative expansion. South Carolina program rules change, so verify the current list with the regulator before drawing a final conclusion.

How do I get a South Carolina medical marijuana card for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)?

Because South Carolina does not currently list Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) as a qualifying condition, a card for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) alone may not be obtainable in-state under the program rules as written. 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 Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) 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 Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)?

For Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), evidence is described as limited (a small number of supportive studies, often underpowered or focused on narrow symptom domains). The mmjnow condition page for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) 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 Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) should review the underlying evidence (linked on the condition page) and discuss expected benefit, dosing, and risk with a clinician familiar with both Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) and cannabinoid pharmacology. Cannabis is not a substitute for evidence-based first-line treatments for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus); 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. NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Lupusaccessed May 18, 2026
  8. NASEM: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2017)accessed May 18, 2026

    “Substantial evidence that cannabis or cannabinoids are effective for chronic pain in adults.”

  9. Lupus Foundation of America: Marijuana and Lupusaccessed May 18, 2026
  10. American College of Rheumatology: 2023 Guideline for SLE Management (executive summary)accessed May 18, 2026
  11. MedlinePlus: Systemic lupus erythematosusaccessed May 18, 2026