Bill > H3018

This bill amends South Carolina's controlled substance laws to create a specific exemption for veterans diagnosed with service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from marijuana possession penalties. Under the proposed legislation, veterans with an honorable or general under honorable conditions discharge who have been diagnosed with PTSD from combat-related service would be legally permitted to possess up to one ounce (28 grams) of marijuana or 10 grams of hashish without criminal prosecution. The bill's preamble highlights the significant mental health challenges facing veterans, including high suicide rates and the potential ineffectiveness of traditional PTSD medications, while suggesting that marijuana may positively impact brain circuits related to fear and anxiety. The legislative context suggests this is part of a broader effort to reform marijuana possession penalties and provide alternative treatment options for veterans struggling with PTSD. The exemption is specifically targeted at veterans who served in areas designated as combat zones by presidential executive order and who have received an official PTSD diagnosis from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, offering them a legal pathway to potentially manage their symptoms through marijuana use.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3018&session=126&summary=B