Bill > H3110

This bill aims to reform South Carolina's drug possession laws by decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana and reducing penalties for certain drug offenses. Specifically, the bill allows law enforcement to issue a civil citation instead of making an arrest for possession of 28 grams (one ounce) or less of marijuana or 10 grams or less of hashish, with a fine ranging from $100 to $200 for first-time offenders. For first-time offenders possessing less than one gram of methamphetamine or cocaine base, the bill reduces potential imprisonment from three years to one year and requires completion of a drug treatment or rehabilitation program. The legislation also mandates that courts place first-time offenders on probation and allows for conditional discharge, meaning that upon successful completion of program requirements, the offense can be dismissed and will not count as a formal conviction. The bill's underlying rationale, as stated in its preamble, is to reduce the burden on the criminal justice system, lower incarceration costs, and redirect resources toward addressing violent crimes, noting that South Carolina arrests 65 people daily on possession charges and spends nearly $21,000 annually to incarcerate each person, compared to much lower costs for rehabilitation programs.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3110&session=126&summary=B