South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson did not mince words regarding his stance on legalizing medical marijuana.

He called marijuana “the most dangerous drug” in the country, the Post and Courier reported.

Wilson assembled state law enforcement and leaders from the SC Medical Association to speak at a press event at the State House Jan. 23.

He warned that medical marijuana would cause a slippery-slope into a general legalization on marijuana. Wilson argued that medical cannabis is dangerous because it is misunderstood.

Dr. March Seabrook of the SC Medical Association disagreed with Wilson’s claim. His opposition to legalization is due to lack of medical and regulatory oversight.

Cannabis is not recognized by the US Food and Drug Administration as medicine, Seabrook said.

SLED Chief Mark Keel pointed to the unknown public safety ramifications of legalization.

Keel said, “There are 5 million people in South Carolina, and we don’t want them to be victims of the unintended consequences of this bill,” The State newspaper reported.

State Sen. Tom Davis of Beaufort filed the SC Compassionate Care Act bill Jan. 15 which would expand cannabis use in some medical cases.

According to Davis, the bill is the most conservative in the country in dealing with medical cannabis.

The bill says DHEC would administer the program and SLED would monitor it.

The attorney general’s strong opposition does not align with the majority of SC residents on the issue.

According to one recent study, 80% say they agree that people should be allowed to use cannabis as part of their medical treatment.