South Carolina Senate Hears Medical Marijuana Bill

Beaufort County This Week

STORY 1

From the Island Packet

Beaufort County will conduct more traffic analysis before continuing with a controversial plan to cut the number of lanes on a busy stretch of Boundary Street in Beaufort from four to two. The lane-reduction plan, which would affect thousands of drivers and several neighborhoods in the heart of the city, prompted demands for more traffic information from Beaufort officials when the county unveiled it last month and asked for the city’s support.

Brittanee Bishop, a program and finance manager in Beaufort County’s Engineering Department, told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet Wednesday that Stantec Consulting Services will study Boundary Street traffic in the coming months. Beaufort County will then bring back a report to the city “that will either support or reject the idea of a road diet,” Bishop said.

Story 2

From WSAV

In January 2023, The Burton Fire District said it only reported four brush and trash fires. However, compared to this January, that number has skyrocketed by 250%.

That’s concerning firefighters who say those types of fires can get out of hand quickly.

“If you think the fire is getting away from you, call 9-1-1,” said Asst. Chief Daniel Byrne with the Burton Fire District. “Let us get there, let’s put the fire out. Don’t sit there and try and deal with it for five, ten, 15 minutes and now we’ve got a major fire we have to deal with.”

….Burning your trash might seem like an easy way to get rid of it. However, not only is it illegal, it can spread quickly and it’s not safe to breathe in the fumes.

“When you burn trash, it breaks down to its chemical composition. And that’s what’s in the smoke and that’s what you’re breathing,” Byrne said. “So you’re breathing toxic smoke and possibly carcinogens. It’s not healthy to do. It can cause you respiratory issues. And if you have respiratory issues already, it could exacerbate it.”
Story 3

From FITS News

South Carolina lawmakers will take up the issue of medical marijuana this week – with longtime advocate Tom Davis, a veteran state senator from Beaufort County, pushing to get a long-awaited legalization bill through the State Senate.

Dubbed the “Compassionate Care Act,” Davis’ bill – S. 423 – has eleven co-sponsors. It was set for special order this week – meaning senators voted to bring it forward to the top of their calendar for a debate on the floor. The legislation cleared the S.C. Senate medical affairs committee last February, but senators refused to debate it at the time.

Davis’ bill would create a heavily regulated medical marijuana program in the Palmetto State, one in which pharmacists would oversee the distribution of cannabis to select patients based upon the recommendation of their physician.

Story 4

From Island News

Shannon Loper, who was fired as Beaufort County’s Parks and Recreation Director in October 2023, has been hired as the interim Parks and Recreation Director in Rincon, Ga., according to a story published on the Effingham Herald’s website Jan. 25.

According to the story, Loper’s first day at her new job was Tuesday, Jan. 30. According to the city’s news release, Loper’s hiring follows the resignation of the previous director in October.

Loper was fired Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 by Beaufort County. Sources within the Beaufort County government told The Island News that Loper was terminated because of her treatment of an employee. She had been employed by Beaufort County Parks and Recreation (formerly known as Parks and Leisure Services or PALS) since 1998. She was promoted to the Director position in 2016.