STATEHOUSE REPORT |  ISSUE 25.06  |  Feb. 6, 2026
  • BIG STORY: THC ban stalls in S.C. House after rare bipartisan pushback
  • MORE NEWS: S.C. House passes restrictive measure on abortion pills
  • ISSUE TRACKER: Senate adopts tougher DUI measure
  • LOWCOUNTRY, Ariail:  Groundhog day
  • BRACK: Newspapers are antidotes to Instagram, Facebook
  • MY TURN, McCorkle:  Ten Commandments bill won’t do much
  • MYSTERY PHOTO: What a view
  • FEEDBACK: Send us a letter
BIG STORY

THC ban stalls in S.C. House after rare bipartisan pushback

By Jack O’Toole, Statehouse bureau  |  A funny thing happened on the way to the banning, or at least partial banning, of THC-infused edibles and beverages in the state of South Carolina.

A lot of members of the S.C. House of Representatives just said no.

Courtesy Naturecan US

That was the upshot of an occasionally raucous afternoon and evening of floor debate on Feb. 4, when a rare coalition of Democrats and breakaway Republicans forced leaders in the supermajority GOP chamber to pull back a pair of THC-related bills that most expected to pass comfortably.

The first bill, which supporters and opponents alike referred to as a partial hemp ban, would outlaw all THC-infused edibles and allow 12 oz. containers of drinks with 5 milligrams or less of THC. Purchasers would have to be 21 or older and sales would only be allowed in liquor stores. After hours of debate, the bill was sent back to the House Judiciary Committee.

The second proposal, an outright ban on all THC-infused products, ended the week in limbo, never having reached the floor.

Both bills were sponsored by powerful House Judiciary Chairman Weston Newton, R-Beaufort, who made it clear he preferred the full ban, but would support the partial ban as a compromise if necessary. 

Proponents argued the partial ban would protect children from an unregulated market without age or potency limits. Additionally, they noted, State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel has long supported banning all or most THC products for what he has called public safety reasons.  

“I’ve heard it called the Wild West,” S.C. Rep. Jay Jordan, R-Florence, told his colleagues. “This is an effort to rein that in.” 

But opponents were quick to note that THC products are a $1.5 billion business in South Carolina, employing 3,500 people in 1,800 small businesses — most of which would be shuttered by the bill. 

What’s more, they argued, it’s not necessary to ban a whole category of popular consumer products that many say give them opioid-free relief from conditions like chronic pain and PTSD in order to set reasonable age restrictions.

That debate came to a head when Dorchester Republican Rep. Greg Ford, who became a grower, processor and retailer of hemp after doctors recommended THC for his then-young son’s life-threatening seizures, introduced a 28-page amendment to effectively legalize and regulate the industry. His son, he said, is now 24 and relies on THC for his health.

“The reason he turned 24 is because we found the hemp products,” Ford said.

After the amendment failed in a close vote, suggesting the partial ban was in trouble, House members voted to return it to committee.

A growing industry under threat

The legal THC products industry in S.C. was born eight years ago, when the U.S. Congress included language approving foods and beverages containing up to 0.3% of Delta-9 THC derived from hemp, but not marijuana, in the 2018 farm bill.

Seemingly overnight, products containing intoxicating levels of Delta-9, as well as other, less common hemp derivatives like Delta-8 and Delta-10, began appearing on shelves in gas stations, vape shops and specialty stores across the Palmetto State.

And according to industry leaders like Rebel Rabbit co-founder Pierce Wylie, some of the early operators, in particular, were “bad actors” who used lab-synthesized THC and marketed their products in ways that appealed to children.

That’s why he says he supports strong regulations to protect consumer safety and keep the products out of the hands of kids. But with a S.C.-based THC drink manufacturing operation now serving consumers in 14 states, Wylie said the partial ban’s 5 milligram limit would threaten everything he’s built over the past five years.

“There has to be a middle ground where we can protect consumer safety, but also give customers access to a level of THC that’s effective for them,” Wylie told Statehouse Report, adding that 10 milligrams seems to be a more reasonable limit based on consumer research.

But if the partial ban is a threat to manufacturers like Wylie, it’s a potential extinction-level event for retailers such as David Spang, founder of Coastal Green Wellness, which has stores in S.C. and Georgia. 

Not only would it eliminate edibles entirely, he noted in a Feb. 5 interview, but it would also require the allowed 5 milligram drinks to be sold in liquor stores.

“So it would just take it out of the hands of the small businesses that helped build this business and hand it over to the alcohol industry,” he said.

What’s next

As noted by industry representatives like Spang, who also serves as president of the pro-regulation S.C. Healthy Alternatives Association,, reaching a compromise with the S.C. legislature would only be the  first step toward saving their industry.

The second step? Convincing the U.S. Congress to reverse or delay a provision buried in the November 2025 government reopening bill that radically reduced the allowable concentration of Delta-9 THC from 0.3% by dry weight to .4 milligrams per food or drink item — a trace amount with no psychoactive or pain-relieving effect, industry sources say.

Christopher Lackner, president of the Hemp Beverage Alliance, a national industry trade group, told Statehouse Report on Feb. 6 that he’s “optimistic” about bills in the U.S. House and Senate that would delay implementation of the new federal law for two years. If passed, he said, lawmakers would use that time to create national regulations.

“We’ve heard from several legislators that they weren’t aware of the provision or didn’t have a full understanding of it,” Lackner said. “And what we’re seeing now is legislators rallying to find a regulatory path for hemp products.”

Back in S.C., Charleston Democratic Sen. Deon Tedder, who’s introduced his own THC bill in the upper chamber, said careful regulation at the federal and state levels make more sense than any kind of ban.

“Banning this industry would be draconian, killing jobs and killing businesses,” he said. “What we need to do is make sure it’s safe, and that there are guardrails to protect children.”

What’s more, Tedder said, after speaking with Ford about his son’s story, he’s more convinced than ever of the importance of protecting medical access to safe THC products.

“That’s a parental rights issue with regard to their child’s health,” Tedder said. “And we shouldn’t be trying to interfere with that.”

Lawmakers told Statehouse Report they weren’t sure when or in exactly what form the partial ban bill would return to the floor from committee.

MORE NEWS

S.C. House passes restrictive measure on abortion pills

Staff reports | In a familiar election-year dance, Republicans in the General Assembly are again pushing for more restrictions on the hot-button issue of abortion.  

On Wednesday, House members voted 81-31 to pass another controversial, conservative measure to curb the medical procedure. In a state that virtually bans physical abortions, they’re now focused on commonly used medications that can induce abortion.  They want to tighten access by reclassifying them as Schedule IV drugs, such as Xanax.

Photo by Planned Parenthood

The bill also would make it illegal to possess the two drugs in question, mifepristone and misoprostol, without a prescription from a South Carolina doctor.  People have reportedly been getting around a ban on providers mailing the pills to end a pregnancy after virtual meetings with out-of-state providers.

“This is the closing of a loophole that further demonstrates what has been the policy in South Carolina, which is anti-abortion,” Rep. Jay Jordan, R-Florence, said, according to the S.C. Daily Gazette.

But Dr. Katherine Farris, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, argued that the bill would only raise the risk of pregnancy for S.C. women.

“In a state already grappling with one of the nation’s worst and most complex reproductive health crises, advancing this bill is reckless and cruel,” Farris said. “Bills like this – rooted in politics, not medicine – will only worsen the maternal mortality crisis in South Carolina and make pregnancy and childbirth even more dangerous.”

The bill heads to the Senate.

In other recent news

2026: McMaster, Trump endorse 3rd potential candidate for S.C. ag commissioner. Two surprise endorsements Thursday may heat up the race for South Carolina’s next agriculture commissioner.

S.C. Senate passes DUI crackdown bill. After three weeks of debate, the South Carolina Senate unanimously passed a bill supporters say will strengthen the state’s DUI laws and help reduce its consistently high rate of impaired-driving deaths.

S.C. House approves tax break for poll workers amid recruiting woes. A bill that would put a little extra cash in poll workers’ pockets passed the S.C. House unanimously Thursday. Election officials cheered any help they could get in recruiting poll workers.

Upstate measles outbreak rises to 876. The S.C. Department of Public Health reported 29 new measles cases, which brings the total in the outbreak to 876 cases.

SCDMV selling millions of dollars in personal data to private companies.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles generated $97 million over the past five years by selling personal data collected from services it provides.

ISSUE TRACKER

Senate adopts tougher DUI measure

By Jack O’Toole, Statehouse bureau | Members of the S.C. Senate on Feb. 4 voted unanimously to strengthen the state’s DUI law. The bill, which Senate leaders identified as a priority heading into the session, closes loopholes such as dismissals due to videotaping issues and stiffens penalties for repeat and first-time offenders. 

“The idea is to include enough of a deterrent effect that people aren’t going to want to do it,” Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, told reporters.

Movement on other issues

Below is an update on other major issues including some mentioned in  our 2026 legislative preview:

Abortion: A House Judiciary subcommittee on Jan. 14 killed one bill to treat abortion as homicide and advanced another to reclassify abortion pills as Schedule IV drugs. LATEST: The S.C. House on Feb. 4 voted 81-31 to advance the abortion pill rescheduling bill to the S.C. Senate.

DOGE SC: Multiple bills promising to cut the state workforce and the regulations they enforce have been introduced for consideration in 2026. In particular, House GOP leaders have pledged to get their “Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act” passed through the S.C. Senate this session. LATEST: Massey told reporters last week the bill could come up for Senate consideration in February or March.

Fix the pay raise:  When the S.C. Supreme Court last year struck down an increase in lawmakers’ “in-district expenses” stipend, the decision also incidentally killed the $1,000 a month that legislators were already receiving.  LATEST: A bill restoring the $1,000 stipend retroactive to July 1, 2025, is headed to Gov. Henry McMaster’s desk after clearing the Senate Jan. 21 and the House Jan. 29.

Little change

Income tax cuts: An income tax cut bill passed last year in the S.C. House is being considered by the S.C. Senate Budget Committee. The bill would set rates at 5.39% and 1.99% based on income — lower than the current rates, but taxing more people due to changes in income exemptions and exclusions. The Senate Budget Committee advanced the House bill on Jan. 20, with an additional property tax cut for residents 65 and older.

Rolling back affirmative action and DEI: Several bills are still currently awaiting consideration, including one to codify Gov. Henry McMaster’s executive order ending affirmative action in state contracting.

Juvenile justice: A special committee created by House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, is meeting throughout the session to advance reforms to the state’s juvenile justice system.

Highway reform: Members of the House Ad Hoc SCDOT Modernization Committee introduced sweeping legislation on Jan. 29 aimed at shaking up the state’s transportation system, including stronger SCDOT executive oversight, increased county responsibility for some state roads and higher taxes on electric vehicles.

Judicial selection: A bill with the support of leaders in both chambers would give the governor more power in selecting state judges. It’s currently awaiting action in the House Judiciary Committee. The leaders’ bill cleared committee Jan. 28 and heads to the House floor for further action.

Concurrency: A bill by Davis that would allow local governments to limit development in areas with insufficient infrastructure is pending consideration in the Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee.

Immigration: Currently in the House Judiciary Committee, H. 4764 would require all S.C. sheriffs to partner with the federal government to enforce national immigration laws. 

ROBERT ARIAIL’S LOWCOUNTRY

Groundhog day

Credit: Robert Ariail

Award-winning cartoonist Robert Ariail has a special knack for poking a little fun in just the right way.  This week, Ariail takes a wry poke at the “documentary” called “Melania.”

COMMENTARY

Newspapers are antidotes to Instagram, Facebook

Commentary by Andy Brack  |  There’s just something different about holding a newspaper in your hands instead of reading it online.

The physical newspaper is a treasure trove of unexpected information.  At first glance, you can obviously see what’s important to editors on a front page.  But you don’t know what you’re going to learn when you start flipping pages.  

And learn you will.  You could discover news about some fresh conflict in another part of the world, a rescue story in Texas, news about the death of someone who touched your life or a quirky story about someone’s pet alligator.

The point is this:  The physical act of turning pages in a newspaper is an intellectual treat.  It’s a great way to learn about your community and nation in random ways that are not controlled by some Internet algorithm.  Reading unexpected stories connects you in new ways to your home and neighbors.  

Newspapers also provide a place every week or day where you can keep up with what your local, state and national governments are doing – or not doing.  Newspapers are the great, longer-than-TV snippets that allow you to dive more deeply into a topic.  They are, in one sense, the antithesis of Instagram or Facebook with their often misleading scraps of information spread by people who are trying to spin this or sell that – instead of focusing on truth and accountability.

Unfortunately for America, newspapers are withering.  In Atlanta, the storied Journal-Constitution no longer prints a daily edition, now only showing up online.  The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will close operations in May after two centuries of publications.  And this week, we learned about cuts of more than 300 journalists at the legendary Washington Post – a decimation that will cripple its sports and international news coverage and make the newspaper a shell of its former bullishness.  

This loss is much the same in weeklies across the nation.  Between 2005 and 2025, some 2,843 non-daily newspapers closed, leaving 4,482 non-daily newspapers.  In South Carolina, two counties, – Allendale and Saluda – don’t have a local print news outlet, according to a Northwestern University tracking study. 

Other papers that used to be daily, such as in Greenwood or Sumter, now print on just two or three days a week.  And many weeklies have lost so much advertising revenue that their print editions are shadows of their former selves.

All of this goes to highlight the slow demise of newspapers and how that appears to be a symptom of what’s going on in a country where democracy and freedom are being challenged by intolerant, unfree, authoritarian Americans.  

A vital, free press is essential for American democracy to thrive by observing and challenging what elected leaders are doing.  Having a vibrant, free press delivers a truthful check on bad leaders – the number of whom have multiplied like gnats in the last year of the Trump administration. A free press bolsters accountability to ensure people are doing what they say they’re doing (too often, they aren’t).  

Newspaper reporting isn’t going to go away.  They’ll keep adapting somehow. And we hope they’ll continue to mostly be published in print – despite it being an inefficient medium.  Because you never know what you’ll read when you turn the page.

Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report and the Charleston City Paper.  Have a comment?  Send to:  feedback@charlestoncitypaper.com

MY TURN

McCorkle: The Ten Commandments bill won’t actually do much

Commentary by Will McCorkle  |  A bill at the Statehouse (H. 4762) that would require the Ten Commandments in every South Carolina classroom jumped its first hurdle on Jan. 21 when a House Judiciary subcommittee favorably approved it to the full committee for consideration. 

Too bad.  It’s a performative bill.  Why?  Because it seeks to appeal to a deeply conservative religious base but will do little to actually change public attitudes, much less make society more ethical.  It has lots of troubling issues from constitutional and Christian perspectives.

Credit: Unsplash

From a constitutional perspective, it’s clear that there should not be the promotion of any one religious view in the public schools. The First Amendment states clearly and directly that “Congress should make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” It was for this reason that policies mandating school prayer and the display of the Ten Commandments were ruled unconstitutional in the 20th century.

There will be those who say this bill is not necessarily about promoting one religion but rather about universal principles. However, that’s simply not true. While there is, of course, general agreement on some values, such as not stealing and not committing murder, commandments about “having no other gods before me” or “not making graven images” and observing the Sabbath are certainly not held by every member of America’s  diverse , pluralistic society. 

This proposal is also deeply curious from a Christian perspective since the overwhelming majority of those pushing this law are professing Christians. But the center of the Christian faith is not the Ten Commandments. The center is the teachings of Jesus. 

The famous American writer, Kurt Vonnegut, put it so well when he said, “For some reason, the most vocal Christians among us never mention the Beatitudes (Matthew 5). But, often with tears in their eyes, they demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings. And of course, that’s Moses, not Jesus. I haven’t heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, be posted anywhere. ‘Blessed are the merciful’ in a courtroom? ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ in the Pentagon?”

Much of the rest of the American society and the global community may also see the complete hypocrisy of the current Republican Party clinging to the Ten Commandments while unapologetically supporting a leader who is a serial adulterer who bears false witness almost every day, has brazenly cheated on his taxes, failed to pay his workers and seems to be covetous about almost everything.

This is also the same party that is defending the killing of anti-ICE protesters. Perhaps Republicans in South Carolina should try to do a little self-examination before forcing the Ten Commandments on the rest of society in a performative stunt that will do very little but drive more division in our state’s culture wars and undermine the Constitution. 

I think if Jesus were here, he would care far less about whether the Ten Commandments were in schoolhouses than about whether his own followers are living out his teachings, especially when it comes to caring for the poor, the outcast and immigrants. Perhaps the South Carolina GOP should focus a little more on those issues. 

Will McCorkle of Summerville is a professor at a Charleston college.  This commentary first appeared in the Charleston City Paper.

MYSTERY PHOTO

What a view

What is this painting?  Who did it?  Where is it?  Send your best guess – plus hometown and name – to: feedback@statehousereport.com.  

Meanwhile, last week’s mystery – “Pink building” – showed an old view in the Library of Congress of Medway Plantation near Goose Creek.

Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas, shares this:  “The original plantation dates back to 1686, and the central portion of the current house was rebuilt around 1704 after a fire, making it the oldest masonry structure in South Carolina. The house features unique Dutch-style stepped gables and was originally made with local ‘Carolina Grey’ salmon-colored bricks and tile.”  

Owners have included provincial Gov. Thomas Smith (1648–1694) and Sidney Jennings Legendre (1903–1948) and his wife, Gertrude Sanford Legendre (1902–2000).  

“Gertrude was a wealthy socialite, big-game hunter, conservationist and the first American woman captured as a spy during World War II,” Peel wrote.  “Her life and the plantation inspired a number of books, and was the basis for the famous 1938 film ‘Holiday,’ starring Katharine Hepburn.”

Others who correctly identified the plantation were:  George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Philip Cromer of Beaufort; Jay Altman of Columbia; and Frank Bouknight of Summerville.

  • SHARE: If you have a Mystery Photo to share, please send it to us – and make sure you tell us what it is!
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