#0excludeGlossary which allows patients with severe forms of epilepsy to access CBD oil with less than 0.9% THC. Despite this limited medical cannabis program, the state has not yet established a comprehensive system for patient access.
Possession of even small amounts of cannabis is still a criminal offense, and South Carolina has some of the strictest penalties for cannabis possession in the country. Efforts to legalize medical cannabis have gained traction in recent years, with several bills introduced in the state legislature, but none have been successful in passing both chambers. Advocates for cannabis reform continue to push for broader legalization, and public opinion is slowly shifting in favor of medical cannabis. As neighboring states like North Carolina move toward decriminalization and medical legalization, pressure is mounting on South Carolina lawmakers to reconsider their stance on cannabis reform.”
South Carolina (/ˌkærəˈlaɪnə/ ⓘ KARR-ə-LY-nə) is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia to the west and south across the Savannah River. Along with North Carolina, it makes up the Carolinas region of the East Coast. South Carolina is the 11th-smallest and 23rd-most populous U.S. state with a recorded population of 5,118,425 according to the 2020 census. In 2019[update], its GDP was $213.45 billion. South Carolina is composed of 46 counties. The capital is Columbia with a population of 136,632 in 2020; while its most populous city is Charleston with a 2020 population of 150,227. The Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC Combined Statistical Area is the most populous combined metropolitan area in the state, with an estimated 2023 population of 1,590,636.
South Carolina | |
|---|---|
| Nickname: The Palmetto State | |
| Motto(s): | |
| Anthem: "Carolina" "South Carolina on my Mind" | |
 Location of South Carolina within the United States | |
| Country | United States |
| Before statehood | Province of South Carolina |
| Admitted to the Union | May 23, 1788 (8th) |
| Capital | Columbia |
| Largest city | Charleston |
| Largest county or equivalent | Greenville |
| Largest metro and urban areas | Greenville (combined and metro) Columbia (urban) |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Henry McMaster (R) |
| • Lieutenant Governor | Pamela Evette (R) |
| Legislature | General Assembly |
| • Upper house | Senate |
| • Lower house | House of Representatives |
| Judiciary | South Carolina Supreme Court |
| U.S. senators | Lindsey Graham (R) Tim Scott (R) |
| U.S. House delegation | 6 Republicans 1 Democrat (list) |
| Area | |
• Total | 32,020.49 sq mi (82,932.7 km2) |
| • Land | 30,060.70 sq mi (77,856.9 km2) |
| • Water | 1,959.79 sq mi (5,075.8 km2) 6.12% |
| • Rank | 40th |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 260 mi (420 km) |
| • Width | 200 mi (320 km) |
| Elevation | 350 ft (110 m) |
| Highest elevation | 3,560 ft (1,085 m) |
| Lowest elevation (Atlantic Ocean) | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total |  5,478,831 |
| • Rank | 23rd |
| • Density | 170.27/sq mi (65.74/km2) |
| • Rank | 18th |
| • Median household income | $67,800 (2023) |
| • Income rank | 40th |
| Demonyms | South Carolinian |
| Language | |
| • Official language | English |
| • Spoken language | |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| USPS abbreviation | SC |
| ISO 3166 code | US-SC |
| Traditional abbreviation | S.C. |
| Latitude | 32°02′ N to 35°13′ N |
| Longitude | 78°32′ W to 83°21′ W |
| Website | sc |
| List of state symbols | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Living insignia | |
| Amphibian | Spotted Salamander |
| Bird | Carolina Wren |
| Butterfly | Eastern Tiger Swallowtail |
| Dog breed | Boykin Spaniel |
| Fish | Striped bass |
| Flower | Yellow jessamine |
| Insect | Carolina mantis |
| Mammal | White-tailed deer |
| Reptile | Loggerhead sea turtle |
| Tree | Sabal palmetto |
| Inanimate insignia | |
| Beverage | Milk |
| Dance | Carolina shag |
| Food |
|
| Fossil | Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi) |
| Mineral | Amethyst |
| Rock | Blue Granite |
| Shell | Lettered olive |
| Other | Hogna carolinensis |
| State route marker | |
 | |
| State quarter | |
 Released in 2000 | |
| Lists of United States state symbols | |
South Carolina was named in honor of King Charles I of England, who first formed the English colony, with Carolus being Latin for "Charles". In 1712 the Province of South Carolina was formed. One of the original Thirteen Colonies, South Carolina became a royal colony in 1719. During the American Revolutionary War, South Carolina was the site of major activity among the American colonies, with more than 200 battles and skirmishes fought within the state. South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on May 23, 1788. A slave state, it was the first state to vote in favor of secession from the Union on December 20, 1860. After the Civil War ended, the state was readmitted to the Union on July 9, 1868.
During the early-to-mid 20th century, the state started to see economic progress as many textile mills and factories were built across the state. The civil rights movement of the mid-20th century helped end segregation and legal discrimination policies within the state. Economic diversification in South Carolina continued to pick up speed during and in the ensuing decades after World War II. In the early 21st century, South Carolina's economy is based on industries such as aerospace, agribusiness, automotive manufacturing, and tourism.
Within South Carolina from east to west are three main geographic regions, the Atlantic coastal plain, the Piedmont, and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwestern corner of Upstate South Carolina. South Carolina has primarily a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Areas in the Upstate have a subtropical highland climate. Along South Carolina's eastern coastal plain are many salt marshes and estuaries. South Carolina's southeastern Lowcountry contains portions of the Sea Islands, a chain of barrier islands along the Atlantic Ocean.
