COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Rep. Eric Bedingfield once shunned all marijuana use, but when his eldest son's six-year struggle with opioid addiction ended with his overdose a year ago, the conservative Republican co-sponsored medical cannabis legislation.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Rep. Eric Bedingfield once shunned all marijuana use, but when his eldest son's six-year struggle with opioid addiction ended with his overdose a year ago, the conservative Republican co-sponsored medical cannabis legislation.

The first shop that can legally sell medical marijuana in Florida opened at a strip mall in Tallahassee on Tuesday and Dallas Nagy became its first customer, buying cannabis capsules that he hopes will ease his chronic muscle spasms and seizures.

The first shop that can legally sell medical marijuana in Florida opened at a strip mall in Tallahassee on Tuesday and Dallas Nagy became its first customer, buying cannabis capsules that he hopes will ease his chronic muscle spasms and seizures.

2015 was a pretty amazing year for progress in the legalization of marijuana. Four states and the District of Columbia legalized recreational marijuana, many states decriminalized it and several more states approved medical marijuana.

A ballot measure to approve all uses of cannabis is moving forward, Robert Reed, a backer of the constitutional amendment, said Thursday.

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio came to the College of Charleston to talk about the country’s future with its future leaders, only to find himself put on the spot by a 79-year-old woman who wanted to know where he stood on legalizing marijuana.

The numbers in eight polls taken since January 2015 vary widely as to whether people of Florida support the legalization of medical marijuana. But the polls all agree that over 60 percent — the percentage needed to pass Amendment 2 in November’s general election — said they were ready to vote yes on the change in the state’s constitution.

North Carolinians overwhelmingly want to see medical marijuana legalized, according to a new Elon University poll.

North Carolinians overwhelmingly want to see medical marijuana legalized, according to a new Elon University poll.

Two South Carolina bills planned for introduction in 2017 would legalize medical cannabis for qualifying patients in the state, effectively nullifying the unconstitutional federal prohibition on the same.

Two South Carolina bills planned for introduction in 2017 would legalize medical cannabis for qualifying patients in the state, effectively nullifying the unconstitutional federal prohibition on the same.

Menéndez plans to try and expand medical marijuana to more patients in 2017 when the Texas Legislature gets back to work.

Menéndez plans to try and expand medical marijuana to more patients in 2017 when the Texas Legislature gets back to work.

A bill to allow people with seizure disorders or other debilitating medical conditions to use a product that comes from the same plant as marijuana was passed by the Alabama Legislature on Wednesday.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – For the last few years, the Alabama legislature has talked a lot about CBD oil. It’s derived from marijuana, but it can’t get you high. It can, however, make a big difference for patients who sometimes suffer multiple seizures a day.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – For the last few years, the Alabama legislature has talked a lot about CBD oil. It’s derived from marijuana, but it can’t get you high. It can, however, make a big difference for patients who sometimes suffer multiple seizures a day.

Unlike most states, Alabama does not allow the medical use of marijuana. But the state has recently passed laws allowing the use of some marijuana-derived extracts that can't get you high.

Unlike most states, Alabama does not allow the medical use of marijuana. But the state has recently passed laws allowing the use of some marijuana-derived extracts that can't get you high.

Legal or not, millions of Americans already use marijuana regularly.

Legal or not, millions of Americans already use marijuana regularly.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has rejected the wording of a proposed ballot measure that would legalize medical marijuana in the state.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has rejected the wording of a proposed ballot measure that would legalize medical marijuana in the state.

LITTLE ROCK (KFSM) — After rejecting a marijuana ballot title and popular name for several months, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has certified the amendment.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana in Arkansas.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana in Arkansas.

A slew of bills modifying the state’s nascent medical marijuana program have been signed into law by Gov. Asa Hutchinson over the past two weeks.

The state’s budding marijuana market could be one of the largest in the country within a matter of years if 60 percent of voters approve Amendment 2.

The state’s budding marijuana market could be one of the largest in the country within a matter of years if 60 percent of voters approve Amendment 2.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.(NEWSPLEX) -- Dozens of cannabis supporters flooded the Charlottesville downtown mall to rally in favor of legalizing marijuana in Virginia.

Lawmakers appear to have reached a compromise Thursday that would expand Georgia’s medical marijuana law.

Lawmakers appear to have reached a compromise Thursday that would expand Georgia’s medical marijuana law.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis City Council has voted to pass an ordinance that will reduce the severity of carrying a small amount of marijuana.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis City Council has voted to pass an ordinance that will reduce the severity of carrying a small amount of marijuana.

Legal cannabis has been a hot topic in the march to Election Night 2016.

Legal cannabis has been a hot topic in the march to Election Night 2016.

The numbers in eight polls taken since January 2015 vary widely as to whether people of Florida support the legalization of medical marijuana. But the polls all agree that over 60 percent — the percentage needed to pass Amendment 2 in November’s general election — said they were ready to vote yes on the change in the state’s constitution.

GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)- A local state representative plans on introducing legislation that would legalize medical marijuana here in Tennessee after meeting with several families who moved from Tennessee to Colorado to get treatment they can’t get here.

GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)- A local state representative plans on introducing legislation that would legalize medical marijuana here in Tennessee after meeting with several families who moved from Tennessee to Colorado to get treatment they can’t get here.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —The first organization approved to dispense medical-grade marijuana in Florida made its first home delivery Saturday.

TALLAHASSEE - Two years after state lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott approved it, Florida’s first medical cannabis dispensary is scheduled to open next week.

TALLAHASSEE - Two years after state lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott approved it, Florida’s first medical cannabis dispensary is scheduled to open next week.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Senate panel Tuesday began exploring issues surrounding medical marijuana as lawmakers prepare to carry out a constitutional amendment overwhelmingly approved by voters in November.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Senate panel Tuesday began exploring issues surrounding medical marijuana as lawmakers prepare to carry out a constitutional amendment overwhelmingly approved by voters in November.

It took months for her son to qualify through a doctor to receive the OK to buy the CBD vape.

Volusia County, Fla. (FOX 35 Orlando) - Voters will decide in November whether or not to legalize medical cannabis in Florida, but there is already a budding system for growing, recommending and delivering products for a very specific set of patients.

Volusia County, Fla. (FOX 35 Orlando) - Voters will decide in November whether or not to legalize medical cannabis in Florida, but there is already a budding system for growing, recommending and delivering products for a very specific set of patients.

TALLAHASSEE (NSF) – After a tense debate, a Senate committee Monday backed a bill that calls for allowing terminally ill patients to have access to medical marijuana and revamping a 2014 cannabis law that has been tangled in legal fights.

Tallahassee is about to have a new medical practice focused on helping patients receive medical marijuana — just weeks after voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 2, a constitutional amendment that greatly expands who can receive medical marijuana legally.

Tallahassee is about to have a new medical practice focused on helping patients receive medical marijuana — just weeks after voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 2, a constitutional amendment that greatly expands who can receive medical marijuana legally.