Would medical marijuana benefit South Carolina?

South Carolina is one of only 13 states where marijuana is illegal.

But some lawmakers and doctors in the state continue pushing for the legalization of medical marijuana, which they say can be a safer treatment for people with debilitating illnesses than some prescription medications.

An attempt to legalize medical marijuana failed this spring, passing in the state Senate but not the House of Representatives .

Rep. Tommy Pope, R-York County, who voted against the bill, said he thought it went too far.

“My biggest concern is that I feel like it sets up an infrastructure for (full) legalization,” Pope said. “As opposed to focusing on taking care of those that probably need help the most.”