Dabbling in marijuana can be a risky decision
Sure, you may have made some risky decisions in the past. Perhaps you dabbled in marijuana while in college but have since cleaned up your act. You graduated, got a steady job with a reputable company and were able to support your family. Still, marijuana use did not seem too serious especially given that states other than South Carolina have deregulated the drug or even legalized it. Soon, you find yourself purchasing more marijuana and perhaps even selling it. Unfortunately, doing so can find you in hot water as possessing a substantial amount of marijuana has serious consequences in South Carolina.
What constitutes marijuana in South Carolina?
Marijuana possession in South Carolina involves all species of the plant whether growing or not, marijuana seeds, marijuana resin or any compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of the plant. Marijuana is a Schedule I drug under South Carolina law and thus is treated more harshly than lesser drugs.
Penalties for the trafficking of marijuana in South Carolina
Selling marijuana in South Carolina is a serious crime. Being caught in possession of even less than 10 pounds of marijuana is a felony crime and can lead to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. If you are caught in possession of substantial amounts of marijuana the law considers it trafficking.
If it is your first offense and you are caught with 10 to 100 pounds of marijuana this is a felony crime and can lead to one to 10 years in prison and a fine of $10,000. If it is your first offense and you are caught with 100 to 2,000 pounds of marijuana, this is a felony crime that can lead to 25 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
If you are in possession of 2,000 to 10,000 pounds of marijuana this is a felony crime that can lead to 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. Finally, if you are caught in possession of over 10,000 pounds of marijuana this can lead to 25 years in prison and a $200,000 fine. As you can see, the penalties for possessing large amounts of marijuana are very serious.
Learn more about drug crimes in South Carolina
While some people in South Carolina may view marijuana as essentially harmless, the authorities in South Carolina will treat possession of large amounts of marijuana as a dangerous crime and if caught you will be punished accordingly. If you find yourself in a situation where you are being accused of a drug crime involving marijuana you will want to have a thorough understanding of your rights and options. Our firm’s webpage on marijuana possession in South Carolina may be a good starting point for those who want more information on this topic.