H 3559

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 55, TITLE 46, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CULTIVATION OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITIONS OF TERMS CONTAINED IN THIS CHAPTER, TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS FOR ADDITIONAL TERMS, TO CREATE THE SOUTH CAROLINA INDUSTRIAL HEMP PROGRAM, TO PROVIDE THAT INDUSTRIAL HEMP IS AN AGRICULTURAL CROP UPON WHICH CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION MAY CONDUCT RESEARCH, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MAY ISSUE PERMITS TO RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE TO GROW INDUSTRIAL HEMP UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS TO APPLY AND BE ISSUED A PERMIT, TO PROVIDE THAT INDUSTRIAL HEMP OR HEMP PRODUCTS MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED AN ADULTERANT, TO PROVIDE PROVISIONS THAT REGULATE THE GROWING, SELLING, AND IMPORTATION OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP AND HEMP SEED, TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT EXCLUDES INDUSTRIAL HEMP FROM THE DEFINITION OF MARIJUANA, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIES COVERED BY THE INDUSTRIAL HEMP PROGRAM ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY STATE CIVIL OR CRIMINAL ACTIONS, TO REVISE THE PROVISION THAT SPECIFIES THAT CERTAIN CONDUCT REGARDING THE MANUFACTURING, DISTRIBUTION, PURCHASE, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATING TO DISGUISING MARIJUANA TO MAKE IT APPEAR TO BE INDUSTRIAL HEMP IS ILLEGAL, TO PROVIDE FOR LABORATORY TESTING OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR DISGUISING MARIJUANA TO APPEAR TO BE INDUSTRIAL HEMP. - ratified title