A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 1-1-619 SO AS TO DESIGNATE APRIL TWENTIETH OF EACH YEAR AS "420 DAY"; AND TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION, PAROLE AND PARDON SERVICES TO PARDON AT LEAST TWENTY PERCENT OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF SIMPLE POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA ON THAT DATE EACH YEAR.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Article 9, Chapter 1, Title 1 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 1-1-619. April twentieth of each year is designated as "420 Day".

 

SECTION 2.  On April twentieth each year, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services is directed to issue pardons to at least twenty percent of persons previously convicted of simple possession of marijuana pursuant to the provisions of Section 44-53-370 who have completed their sentence, including any portion of probation or parole. The provisions of this SECTION apply only to the pardoning of the offense of simple possession of marijuana and not to other unrelated convictions.

 

SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX----