COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Healthy Alternatives Association is commending members of the South Carolina House of Representatives for last week’s vote of non-concurrence on H.3924, a deeply flawed hemp “regulation” bill that would have devastated thousands of small businesses, unfairly restricted consumer access, and forced South Carolina’s legal hemp industry into extinction.
The outcome was made possible by the hard work of the Association, its members, its lobbyists, and, most importantly, the elected officials who listened to South Carolina businesses, consumers, farmers, veterans and seniors who depend on access to legal hemp products.
“Yesterday, the House made the correct decision,” said Zach Serrins, Executive Director of the South Carolina Healthy Alternatives Association. “By refusing to concur with H.3924 in its current form, lawmakers chose not to destroy a thriving South Carolina industry. We are grateful to every member of the House who took the time to understand the real-world consequences of this bill and stood up for small businesses and consumers across our state.”
Since hemp was federally legalized in 2018, South Carolina has become one of the most active hemp markets in the country. In the absence of a clear state regulatory framework, responsible businesses have repeatedly called on lawmakers to adopt reasonable, enforceable standards that protect children, ensure product safety, and create clear rules of the road.
For that reason, the Association emphasized that last week’s victory is bittersweet. While the House protected the industry from a harmful and economically destructive proposal, South Carolina still lacks the commonsense regulations that responsible hemp businesses have supported for years.
“This was an important victory, but it is not the end of the fight,” Serrins said. “Our association has always made protecting children and consumers one of our paramount concerns. We have consistently supported a 21-and-up age gate, child-resistant packaging, mandatory third-party testing, clear labeling, and meaningful compliance standards. South Carolina should not have to choose between protecting kids and protecting small businesses. We can and must do both.”
The South Carolina Healthy Alternatives Association is now calling on the H.3924 Conference Committee to urgently advance commonsense legislation that protects children by instituting a 21+ age requirement for hemp products and protects consumers by requiring mandatory testing, labeling, and compliance measures.
The Association also continues to urge lawmakers to include the hemp industry in the legislative process in good faith. Responsible operators have direct knowledge of the products, the marketplace, the supply chain, and the regulatory tools needed to create an enforceable system that works for consumers, businesses, and law enforcement alike.
“We stand ready to help build a framework that protects public safety, preserves consumer access, supports small businesses, and gives regulators and law enforcement the tools they need,” Serrins said. “Yesterday, the House stopped a bad bill from becoming law. Now it is time to pass a good one.”
The South Carolina Healthy Alternatives Association thanks the House of Representatives for its non-concurrence on H.3924 and urges the Conference Committee to move forward with legislation grounded in public safety, economic reality, and good-faith collaboration with the businesses and consumers most affected by this issue.
For more information, visit schealthy.org and follow @myhealthysc on instagram.