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TO CREDIT ANY RECOVERY IN ANY OPIOID LITIGATION, TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG ABUSE SERVICES TO BE USED TO TREAT AND PREVENT OPIOID AND OTHER SUBSTANCE ABUSE, TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND METHODS TO FIRST RESPONDERS TO CONTEND WITH OPIOID AND OTHER SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND TO RESEARCH THE AFFECTS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA ON OPIOID ADDICTION AND RECOVERY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. (A) If, the Attorney General recovers a settlement award in any opioid litigation, for the deceptive marketing of prescription opioids, then once all of the lawful debts and charges associated with the lawsuit are paid, all remaining funds must be credited to the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS).
(B) Of the funds credited to DAODAS pursuant to subsection (A):
(1) forty percent must be used for opioid and other substance abuse treatment programs, services, and hospitals;
(2) thirty percent must be used for opioid and other substance abuse prevention, including, but not limited to, school-based programs, marketing and social media campaigns, radio, television, and public service announcements;
(3) twenty percent must be used to provide training and strategies to first responders related to opioid and other substance abuse, including, but not limited to, the administration of naloxone; and
(4) ten percent must be used to engage the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy and the Medical University of South Carolina to research the affects of medical marijuana on opioid addiction and recovery.
(C)(1) To conduct the research set forth in subsection (B)(4), the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy and the Medical University of South Carolina are authorized, to the extent permitted by and in accordance with federal laws and regulations, to undertake the following actions: acquire pharmaceutical grade marijuana, marijuana extracts, semi-pure isolates, and purified compounds, including, but not limited to, THC, CBD, CBO, cannabinol, and cannabigerol for use in this research. Further, the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of the South Carolina are authorized to form collaborations, agreements, and partnerships with other public and private entities in order to conduct this research and clinical trials, to the extent permitted by and in accordance with federal laws and regulations, as well as to pursue both public and private funding.
(2) The University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina are directed to provide to the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, on or before the first day of the legislative session following receipt of the funds, with a written summary of the actions they have undertaken pursuant to this subsection and the material findings, if any, resulting from such activities.
(D) The funds credited to DAODAS pursuant to subsection (A) are to supplement, and not supplant, other appropriations to the department. Further, as a result of the supplemental funds, DAODAS may not redirect funding to programs and services outside the scope of substance abuse.
(E) DAODAS may carry-forward any such unexpended funds to succeeding fiscal years to be expended for the same purposes.
SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on December 11, 2019 at 3:32 PM