South Carolina General Assembly
113th Session, 1999-2000

Download This Version in Microsoft Word format

Bill 916


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

May 18, 2000

S. 916

Introduced by Senators Courson, Setzler, Giese, Hayes, J. Verne Smith, Wilson, Branton and Reese

S. Printed 5/18/00--H.

Read the first time April 13, 2000.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL,

MILITARY, PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 916), to amend Section 44-53-190 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to controlled substances, so as to include gamma hydroxy butyrate, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding appropriately numbered Sections to read:

/SECTION __. Section 44-53-250 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 456 of 1994, is amended by adding at the end:

"( ) Butorphanol"

SECTION __. Section 44-53-360(c) and (e) of the 1976 Code are amended to read:

"(c) No controlled substances included in any schedule may be distributed or dispensed for other than a medical purpose. No practitioner shall may dispense any a Schedule II narcotic controlled substance for the purpose of maintaining the addiction of a narcotic dependent person outside of a facility or program approved by the South Carolina Methadone Council Department of Heath and Environmental Control. No practitioner shall may dispense any a controlled substances substance outside of a bona fide physician-patient practitioner-patient relationship. No practitioner shall dispense any controlled substance for any use other than the uses approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration or unless an investigation of new drug application for the substance has been obtained and approved by the Federal agency and a copy thereof filed with the Department.

Provided , that the labelling required under federal law to accompany certain drug products (commonly known in the medically related professions as the "package insert") shall be prima facie evidence of the approved uses for such drug, unless otherwise specifically provided by statute or regulation of the Department or the State Board of Medical Examiners, and such labelling shall be admissible as evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding for the sole purpose of demonstrating the approved uses for such drug. In the event that there has been a change in labeling for a particular drug product, the content of the labelling which was current with the manufacturer of the drug product at the time of the incident from which the judicial or administrative action arises, shall be deemed to contain the "approved use" of the drug product within the meaning of this section. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to modify any of the provisions of Section 40-47-65.

(e) Prescriptions for controlled substances in Schedules II through V, inclusive, shall must not exceed one hundred twenty twenty-four dosage units or a thirty-day thirty-one day supply in accordance with dosage instructions, whichever quantity is the lesser. Prescriptions for Schedule II substances shall must be dispensed within thirty days of the date of issue, after which time they shall be deemed are void."

SECTION __. Section 44-53-710 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 44-53-710. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control shall have has exclusive control over the controlled substance methadone, except for the South Carolina Department of Mental Health facilities or treatment programs licensed by the South Carolina Department of Mental Health and approved by the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services or the federal government."

SECTION __. Section 44-53-720 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-53-720. Methadone and its salts are restricted to:

(a)(1) To use in treatment, maintenance, or detoxification programs in the State Department of Mental Health facilities or programs approved by the South Carolina Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and licensed by the South Carolina Department of Mental Health as approved by the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

(b)(2) To dispensing by a hospital for analgesia, pertussis, and detoxification treatment as approved by the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

(3) dispensing by a retail pharmacy for analgesia as provided for by R. 61-4, Section 507.5."

SECTION __. Section 44-53-730 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-53-730. No supplier, distributor, or manufacturer shall may sell or distribute methadone or its salts to anyone other than a facility licensed by the Department of Health and Environmental Control or the South Carolina Department of Mental Health an entity for use, except as provided for in Section 44-53-720."

SECTION __. Section 44-53-740 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 44-53-740. The Board of the Department of Health and Environmental Control shall promulgate regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this article. Such regulations shall not include criteria for admission to, continuance in, or discharge from any methadone maintenance program in a facility of the South Carolina Department of Mental Health or facility licensed by the South Carolina Department of Mental Health and approved by the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services or the federal government."/

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend totals and title to conform.

JOE E. BROWN, for Committee.

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES:

Minimal (Some additional costs expected but can be absorbed)

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON FEDERAL & OTHER FUND EXPENDITURES:

$0 (No additional expenditures or savings are expected)

EXPLANATION OF IMPACT:

SC Department of Corrections

The department forecasts a minimal fiscal impact to the General Fund of the State with the passage of the proposed legislation. Specifically, while the department acknowledges that data is not available to predict the number of individuals who could be convicted (and the resultant admissions to SCDC) of offenses relating to the controlled substance, Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate, impact on SCDC population is not expected to be significant.

SC Department of Probation, Parole & Pardon Services

The department forecasts no fiscal impact to the General Fund of the State with the passage of the proposed legislation.

SC Judicial Department

The department forecasts a minimal fiscal impact to the General Fund of the State with the passage of the proposed legislation. The agency has also stated that the minimal cost can be absorbed by the agency as long the case load does not exceed what the judges are able handle. Should the case load by increased substantially, additional judges would be needed. The cost associated with one additional judge and staff (administrative assistant, court reporter and law clerk) is approximately $303,593 for personal services and associated operating expenses and $26,620 of non-recurring cost for automation and furniture. The addition of new judges would also require more courtroom space, an expense borne by county government.

State Law Enforcement Division, Governor's Office (SLED)

SLED is currently performing tests for this specific substance, there will be no additional cost to the General Fund of the State nor on federal and/or other funds.

Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)

DHEC indicates that the agency is already performing the specified level of oversight in regard to the regulation of methadone therefore, no cost is associated with the implementation of this bill.

Approved By:

Don Addy

Office of State Budget

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 44-53-190 OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, SO AS TO INCLUDE GAMMA HYDROXY BUTYRATE IN SCHEDULE I CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 16-3-652(1)(c) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(c) The actor causes the victim, without the victim's consent, to become mentally incapacitated or physically helpless by administering, distributing, dispensing, delivering, or causing to be administered, distributed, dispensed, or delivered a controlled substance, or gamma hydroxy butyrate a controlled substance analogue, or any intoxicating substance."

SECTION 2. Section 44-53-110 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-53-110. As used in this article and Sections 44-49-10, 44-49-40, and 44-49-50:

'Administer' means the direct application of a controlled substance, whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or any other means, to the body of a patient or research subject by:

(1) a practitioner (or, in his presence, by his authorized agent), or

(2) the patient or research subject at the direction and in the presence of the practitioner.

'Agent' means an authorized person who acts on behalf of or at the direction of a manufacturer, distributor, or dispenser;, except that such this term does not include a common or contract carrier, public warehouseman, or employee of the carrier or warehouseman, when acting in the usual or lawful course of the carrier's or warehouseman's business.

'Bureau' means the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, United States Department of Justice, or its successor agency.

'Commission' means the South Carolina Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

'Confidant' means a medical practitioner, a pharmacist, a pharmacologist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a full-time staff member of a college or university counselling counseling bureau, a guidance counselor or a teacher in an elementary school or in a junior or senior high school, a full-time staff member of a hospital, a duly ordained and licensed member of the clergy, accredited Christian Science practitioner, or any professional or paraprofessional staff member of a drug treatment, education, rehabilitation, or referral center who has received a communication from a holder of the privilege.

'Controlled substance' means a drug, substance, or immediate precursor in Schedules I through V in Sections 44-53-190, 44-53-210, 44-53-230, 44-53-250, and 44-53-270.

'Controlled substance analogue' means a substance that is intended for human consumption and that either has a chemical structure substantially similar to that of a controlled substance in Schedules I, II, or III or has a stimulant, depressant, analgesic, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that is substantially similar to that of a controlled substance in Schedules I, II, or III. Controlled substance analogue does not include a controlled substance; any substance generally recognized as safe and effective within the meaning of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.; any substance for which there is an approved new drug application; or, with respect to a particular person, any substance if an exemption is in effect for investigational use for that person under Section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. 355.

'Counterfeit substance' means a controlled substance which, or the container or labeling of which, without authorization, bears the trademark, trade name, or other identifying mark, imprint, number, or device, or any likeness thereof, of a manufacturer, distributor, or dispenser other than the person who, in fact, manufactured, distributed, or dispensed such substance and which, thereby, falsely purports or is represented to be the product of, or to have been distributed by, such other manufacturer, distributor, or dispenser.

'Crack cocaine' means an alkaloidal cocaine or freebase form of cocaine, which is the end product of a chemical alteration whereby the cocaine in salt form is converted to a form suitable for smoking.

'Deliver' or 'delivery' means the actual, constructive, or attempted transfer of a controlled drug or paraphernalia whether or not there exists an agency relationship.

'Department' means the State Department of Health and Environmental Control.

'Depressant or stimulant drug' means (a) a drug which contains any quantity of barbituric acid or any of the salts of barbituric acid, or any derivative of barbituric acid which has been designated as habit forming by the appropriate Federal federal agency or by the department; (b) a drug which contains any quantity of amphetamine or any of its optical isomers, any salt of amphetamine or any salt of any optical isomer of amphetamine, or any other substance which the appropriate Federal federal agency, or the department, after investigation, as found to be capable of being, and by regulation designated as, habit forming because of its stimulant effect on the central nervous system; or (c) lysergic acid diethylamide or mescaline, or any other substance which the appropriate Federal federal agency or the department, after investigation, has found to have, and by regulation designates as having a potential for abuse because of its stimulant or depressant effect on the central nervous system, or its hallucinogenic effect.

'Detoxification treatment' means the dispensing, for a period not in excess of twenty-one days, of a narcotic drug in decreasing doses to an individual in order to alleviate adverse physiological or psychological effects incident to withdrawal from the continuous or sustained use of a narcotic drug and as a method of bringing the individual to a narcotic drug-free state within such this period.

'Director' shall mean means the Director of the Department of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs under the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

'Dispense' means to deliver a controlled substance to an ultimate user or research subject by or pursuant to the lawful order of a practitioner, including the prescribing, administering, packaging, labeling, or compounding necessary to prepare the substance for such the delivery.

'Dispenser' means a practitioner who delivers a controlled substance to the ultimate user or research subject.

'Distribute' means to deliver (other than by administering or dispensing) a controlled substance.

'Distributor' means a person who so delivers a controlled substance.

'Drug' means (a) substances recognized in the official United States Pharmacopoeia, official Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, or official National Formulary, or any supplement to any of them; and (b) substances intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in man and animals; and (c) substances (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man and animals; and (d) substances intended for use as a component of any substance specified in clause (a), (b), or (c) of this paragraph; but does not include devices or their components, parts, or accessories.

'Drug problem' means a mental or physical problem caused by the use or abuse of a controlled substance.

'Holder of the privilege' means a person with an existing or a potential drug problem who seeks counselling counseling, treatment, or therapy regarding such drug problem.

'Ice' or 'crank' means amphetamine or methamphetamine, any salt, isomer, or salt of an isomer, or any mixture or compound containing any of the above these substances.

'Imitation controlled substance' means a noncontrolled substance which is represented to be a controlled substance and is packaged in a manner normally used for the distribution or delivery of an illegal controlled substance.

'Immediate precursor' means a substance which the appropriate Federal federal agency or the department has found to be and by regulation has designated as being the principal compound commonly used or produced primarily for use, and which is an immediate chemical intermediary used or likely to be used in the manufacture of a controlled substance, the control of which is necessary to prevent, curtail, or limit such manufacture.

'Maintenance treatment' means the dispensing, for a period in excess of twenty-one days, of a narcotic drug in the treatment of an individual for dependence upon heroin or other morphine-like drugs.

'Manufacture' means the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, conversion, or processing of a controlled substance, either directly or indirectly by extraction from substances of natural origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis, and includes any packaging or repackaging of the substance or labeling or relabeling of its container, except that this term does not include the preparation or compounding of a controlled substance by an individual for his own use or the preparation, compounding, packaging, or labeling of a controlled substance:

(1) By by a practitioner as an incident to his administering or dispensing of a controlled substance in the course of his professional practice, or

(2) By by a practitioner, or by his authorized agent under his supervision, for the purpose of, or as an incident to, research, teaching, or chemical analysis and not for sale.

'Manufacturer' means any person who packages, repackages, or labels any container of any controlled substance, except practitioners who dispense or compound prescription orders for delivery to the ultimate consumer.

'Marijuana' means:

(1) All all species or variety of the marijuana plant and all parts thereof whether growing or not.;

(2) The the seeds of the marijuana plant.;

(3) The the resin extracted from any part of the marijuana plant.;

(4) Every every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of the marijuana plant, marijuana seeds, or marijuana resin.

'Marijuana' does not mean:

(1) The the mature stalks of the marijuana plant or fibers produced from such these stalks.;

(2) Oil oil or cake made from the seeds of the marijuana plant.;

(3) Any any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivatives, mixture or preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom).;

(4) The the sterilized seed of the marijuana plant which is incapable of germination.

'Narcotic drug' means any of the following, whether produced directly or indirectly by extraction from substances of vegetable origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis:

(a) Opium opium, coca leaves, and opiates;

(b) A a compound, manufacture, salt, derivative or preparation of opium, coca leaves, or opiates;

(c) A a substance (and any compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, or preparation thereof) which is chemically identical with any of the substances referred to in clauses (a) or (b). Such This term does not include decocainized coca leaves or extracts of coca leaves, which extracts do not contain cocaine or ecgonine.

'Noncontrolled substance' means any substance of chemical or natural origin which is not included in the schedules of controlled substances set forth in this article or included in the federal schedules of controlled substances set forth in Title 21, Section 812 of the United States Code or in Title 21, Part 1308, of the Code of Federal Regulations.'

'Opiate' means any substance having an addiction-forming or addiction-sustaining liability similar to morphine or being capable of conversion into a drug having addiction-forming or addiction-sustaining liability. It does not include, unless specifically designated as controlled under this article, the dextrorotatory isomer of 3-methoxy-n-methylmorphinan and its salts (dextromethorphan). It does include its racemic and levorotatory forms.

'Opium poppy' means the plant of the species Papaver somniferum L., except the seed thereof.

'Paraphernalia' means any instrument, device, article, or contrivance used, designed for use, or intended for use in ingesting, smoking, administering, or preparing marijuana, hashish, hashish oil, or cocaine and shall does not include cigarette papers and tobacco pipes but shall include includes, but is not be limited to:

(1) metal, wooden, acrylic, glass, stone, plastic, or ceramic marijuana or hashish pipes with or without screens, permanent screens, hashish heads, or punctured metal bowls.;

(2) water pipes designed for use or intended for use with marijuana, hashish, hashish oil, or cocaine.;

(3) carburetion tubes and devices.;

(4) smoking and carburetion masks.;

(5) roach clips.;

(6) separation gins designed for use or intended for use in cleaning marijuana.;

(7) cocaine spoons and vials.;

(8) chamber pipes.;

(9) carburetor pipes.;

(10) electric pipes.;

(11) air-driven pipes.;

(12) chilams.;

(13) bongs.;

(14) ice pipes or chillers.

'Peyote' means all parts of the plant presently classified botanically as Lophophora Williamsii Lemaire, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; any extract from any part of such plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds, or extracts.

'Poppy straw' means all parts, except the seeds, of the opium poppy, after mowing.

'Practitioner' means:

(1) A physician, dentist, veterinarian, podiatrist, scientific investigator, or other person licensed, registered, or otherwise permitted to distribute, dispense, conduct research with respect to, or to administer a controlled substance in the course of professional practice or research in this State.

(2) A pharmacy, hospital, or other institution licensed, registered, or otherwise permitted to distribute, dispense, conduct research with respect to, or to administer a controlled substance in the course of professional practice or research in this State.

'Production' includes the manufacture, planting, cultivation, growing, or harvesting of a controlled substance.

'Ultimate user' means a person who lawfully possesses a controlled substance for his own use or for the use of a member of his household or for administration to an animal owned by him or a member of his household."

SECTION 3. Section 44-53-190(e) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(e) Depressants. Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substance having a depressant effect on the central nervous system, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers if possible within the specific chemical designation:

(1) Mecloqualone.;

(2) Methaqualone; or

(3) Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid."

SECTION 4. Section 44-53-230(c) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(c) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances having a depressant effect on the central nervous system:

1. any compound, mixture, or preparation containing amobarbital, secobarbital, pentobarbital or any salt thereof and one or more other active ingredients which are not listed in any schedule.;

2. any suppository dosage form containing amobarbital, secobarbital, pentobarbital, or any salt of any of these drugs and approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for marketing only as a suppository.;

3. any substance which contains any quantity of a derivative or barbituric acid or any salt thereof.;

4. Chlorhexadol;

5. Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid, and its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers contained in a drug product for which an application has been approved under Section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.;

6. Glutehimide.;

6.7. Lysergic Acid.;

7.8. Lysergic Acid Amide.;

8.9. Methyprylon.;

9.10. Sulfondiethylmethane.;

10.11. Sulfonethylmethane.;

11.12. Sulfonmethane."

SECTION 5. Section 44-53-370(a)(1) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(1) to manufacture, distribute, dispense, deliver, purchase, or aid, abet, attempt, or conspire to manufacture, distribute, dispense, deliver, or purchase, or possess with the intent to manufacture, distribute, dispense, deliver, or purchase a controlled substance or a controlled substance analogue;"

SECTION 6. Section 44-53-370(b)(2) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(2) any other controlled substance classified in Schedule I, II, or III, or flunitrazepam or a controlled substance analogue, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, for a first offense must be imprisoned not more than five years or fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both. For a second offense, or, if, in the case of a first conviction of violation of any provision of this subsection, the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of the laws of the United States or of any state, territory, or district relating to narcotic drugs, marijuana, depressant, stimulant, or hallucinogenic drugs, the offender is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than ten years or fined not more than ten thousand dollars, or both. For a third or subsequent offense, or, if the offender previously has been convicted two or more times in the aggregate of a violation of the laws of the United States or of any state, territory, or district relating to narcotic drugs, marijuana, depressant, stimulant, or hallucinogenic drugs, the offender is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not less than five years nor more than twenty years, or fined not more than twenty thousand dollars, or both. Except in the case of conviction for a first offense, the sentence must not be suspended and probation must not be granted;"

SECTION 7. Section 44-53-370(d)(3) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(3) possession of more than: ten grains of cocaine, one hundred milligrams of alpha- or beta-eucaine, four grains of opium, four grains of morphine, two grains of heroin, one hundred milligrams of isonipecaine, twenty-eight grams or one ounce of marijuana, ten grams of hashish, or more than fifty micrograms of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) or its compounds, or twenty milliliters or milligrams of gamma hydroxybutyric acid or a controlled substance analogue of gamma hydroxybutyric acid, is prima facie guilty of violation of subsection (a) of this section. A person who violates this subsection with respect to twenty-eight grams or one ounce or less of marijuana or ten grams or less of hashish is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than thirty days or fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two hundred dollars. Conditional discharge may be granted in accordance with the provisions of Section 44-53-450 upon approval by the circuit solicitor to the magistrate or municipal judge. As a part of a sentence, a magistrate or municipal judge may require attendance at an approved drug abuse program. Persons charged with the offense of possession of marijuana or hashish under this item may be permitted to enter the pretrial intervention program under the provisions of Sections 17-22-10 through 17-22-160. For a second or subsequent offense, the offender is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than one year or fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or both."

SECTION 8. Section 44-53-370(e) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(e) Any person who knowingly sells, manufactures, cultivates, delivers, purchases, or brings into this State, or who provides financial assistance or otherwise aids, abets, attempts, or conspires to sell, manufacture, cultivate, deliver, purchase, or bring into this State, or who is knowingly in actual or constructive possession or who knowingly attempts to become in actual or constructive possession of:

(1) ten pounds or more of marijuana is guilty of a felony which is known as 'trafficking in marijuana' and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows if the quantity involved is:

(a) ten pounds or more, but less than one hundred pounds:

1. for a first offense, a term of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than ten years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of ten thousand dollars;

2. for a second offense, a term of imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than twenty years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifteen thousand dollars;

3. for a third or subsequent offense, a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars;

(b) one hundred pounds or more, but less than two thousand pounds, or one hundred to one thousand marijuana plants regardless of weight, a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars;

(c) two thousand pounds or more, but less than ten thousand pounds, or more than one thousand marijuana plants, but less than ten thousand marijuana plants regardless of weight, a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifty thousand dollars;

(d) ten thousand pounds or more, or ten thousand marijuana plants, or more than ten thousand marijuana plants regardless of weight, a term of imprisonment of not less than twenty-five years nor more than thirty years with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of two hundred thousand dollars;

(2) ten grams or more of cocaine or any mixtures containing cocaine, as provided in Section 44-53-210(b)(4), is guilty of a felony which is known as 'trafficking in cocaine' and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows if the quantity involved is:

(a) ten grams or more, but less than twenty-eight grams:

1. for a first offense, a term of imprisonment of not less than three years nor more than ten years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars;

2. for a second offense, a term of imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than thirty years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifty thousand dollars;

3. for a third or subsequent offense, a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of not less than twenty-five years nor more than thirty years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifty thousand dollars;

(b) twenty-eight grams or more, but less than one hundred grams:

1. for a first offense, a term of imprisonment of not less than seven years nor more than twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifty thousand dollars;

2. for a second offense, a term of imprisonment of not less than seven years nor more than thirty years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifty thousand dollars;

3. for a third or subsequent offense, a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of not less than twenty-five years and not more than thirty years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifty thousand dollars;

(c) one hundred grams or more, but less than two hundred grams, a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifty thousand dollars;

(d) two hundred grams or more, but less than four hundred grams, a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of one hundred thousand dollars;

(e) four hundred grams or more, a term of imprisonment of not less than twenty-five years nor more than thirty years with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of two hundred thousand dollars;

(3) four grams or more of any morphine, opium, salt, isomer, or salt of an isomer thereof, including heroin, as described in Section 44-53-190 or 44-53-210, or four grams or more of any mixture containing any of these substances, is guilty of a felony which is known as 'trafficking in illegal drugs' and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows if the quantity involved is:

(a) four grams or more, but less than fourteen grams:

1. for a first offense, a term of imprisonment of not less than seven years nor more than twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifty thousand dollars;

2. for a second or subsequent offense, a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of one hundred thousand dollars;

(b) fourteen grams or more but less than twenty-eight grams, a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of two hundred thousand dollars;

(c) twenty-eight grams or more, a mandatory term of imprisonment of not less than twenty-five years nor more than forty years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of two hundred thousand dollars;

(4) fifteen grams or more of methaqualone is guilty of a felony which is known as 'trafficking in methaqualone' and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows if the quantity involved is:

(a) fifteen grams but less than one hundred fifty grams:

1. for a first offense, a term of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than ten years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of ten thousand dollars;

2. for a second or subsequent offense, a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars;

(b) one hundred fifty grams but less than fifteen hundred grams, a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars;

(c) fifteen hundred grams but less than fifteen kilograms, a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifty thousand dollars;

(d) fifteen kilograms or more, a term of imprisonment of not less than twenty-five years nor more than thirty years with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of two hundred thousand dollars;

(5) one hundred tablets, capsules, dosage units, or the equivalent quantity, or more of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is guilty of a felony which is known as 'trafficking in LSD' and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows if the quantity involved is:

(a) one hundred dosage units or the equivalent quantity, or more, but less than five hundred dosage units or the equivalent quantity:

1. for a first offense, a term of imprisonment of not less than three years nor more than ten years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of twenty thousand dollars;

2. for a second offense, a term of imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than thirty years, no part of which may be suspended or probation granted, and a fine of forty thousand dollars;

3. for a third or subsequent offense, a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of not less than twenty-five years nor more than thirty years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifty thousand dollars;

(b) five hundred dosage units or the equivalent quantity, or more, but less than one thousand dosage units or the equivalent quantity:

1. for a first offense, a term of imprisonment of not less than seven years nor more than twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifty thousand dollars;

2. for a second offense, a term of imprisonment of not less than seven years nor more than thirty years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifty thousand dollars;

3. for a third or subsequent offense, a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of not less than twenty-five years and not more than thirty years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifty thousand dollars;

(c) one thousand dosage units or the equivalent quantity, or more, a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of one hundred thousand dollars;

(6) one gram or more of flunitrazepam is guilty of a felony which is known as 'trafficking in flunitrazepam' and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows if the quantity involved is:

(a) one gram but less than one hundred grams;

1. for a first offense a term of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than ten years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of ten thousand dollars;

2. for a second or subsequent offense, a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars;

(b) one hundred grams but less than one thousand grams, a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars;

(c) one thousand grams but less than five kilograms, a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of fifty thousand dollars;

(d) five kilograms or more, a term of imprisonment of not less than twenty-five years, nor more than thirty years, with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of two hundred thousand dollars;

(7) fifty milliliters or milligrams or more of gamma hydroxybutyric acid or a controlled substance analogue of gamma hydroxybutyric acid is guilty of a felony which is known as 'trafficking in gamma hydroxybutyric acid' and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows:

(a) for a first offense, a term of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than ten years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of ten thousand dollars;

(b) for a second or subsequent offense, a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted, and a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars.

A person convicted and sentenced under this subsection to a mandatory term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of twenty-five years, or a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of not less than twenty-five years nor more than thirty years is not eligible for parole, extended work release, as provided in Section 24-13-610, or supervised furlough, as provided in Section 24-13-710. Notwithstanding Section 44-53-420, a person convicted of conspiracy pursuant to this subsection must be sentenced as provided in this section with a full sentence or punishment and not one-half of the sentence or punishment prescribed for the offense.

The weight of any controlled substance in this subsection includes the substance in pure form or any compound or mixture of the substance.

The offense of possession with intent to distribute described in Section 44-53-370(a) is a lesser included offense to the offenses of trafficking based upon possession described in this subsection."

SECTION 9. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on Friday, June 26, 2009 at 3:11 P.M.