SB 2347 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Methamphetamine; revise penalty for simple possession of certain amounts.

SB 2347 revises penalties for simple possession of methamphetamine in Mississippi. It requires courts to assess whether first-time offenders should participate in a state-approved drug treatment program (unless a written finding deems it inappropriate), and mandates participation in such a program for a specified duration for second offenses. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of possessing methamphetamine in certain amounts, shifting focus from incarceration to treatment for non-violent drug possession cases. It applies specifically to methamphetamine under Mississippi's controlled substances laws, not other drugs or trafficking offenses. The legislation aims to address substance use through treatment rather than solely punitive measures.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 17, 2025 Last action Mar 4, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced Current version · 10 edits
MAJOR
This bill significantly revises Mississippi's drug possession penalties, particularly for methamphetamine, marijuana, and synthetic cannabinoids. It introduces new sentencing tiers based on weight and dosage units, creates mandatory drug treatment requirements for first and second methamphetamine offenses, and establishes a private nonpublic record system for marijuana convictions that can be expunged after two years. The bill also adds specific provisions for paraphernalia offenses and clarifies trafficking definitions.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of controlled substance penalties to include specific weight-based tiers for marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids, while creating new exemptions and reduced penalties for small amounts of these substances compared to methamphetamine.
REQUIREMENT

Added mandatory drug treatment program requirements for first and second methamphetamine possession convictions, with court discretion to find treatment inappropriate in writing.

Added mandatory drug treatment for second methamphetamine offense within five years (30 days minimum) and felony charges for third or subsequent offenses within five years.

Added prohibition on physicians prescribing Schedule II stimulants for obesity or weight loss treatment.

DEFINITION

Defined 'dosage unit' as a tablet, capsule, or milliliter for liquid solutions, with special provisions for LSD.

ENFORCEMENT

Created a private nonpublic record system for marijuana convictions that courts must forward to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, expunged after two years and not constituting a criminal record.

Added misdemeanor penalty for marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid possession in motor vehicles (1-30 grams marijuana or 1-10 grams synthetic cannabinoids) with fines up to $1,000 or 90 days in county jail.

Added aggravated trafficking provisions for Schedule I or II substances (200+ grams) with mandatory 25-year minimum sentences.

Added sentence mitigation provisions allowing courts to reduce mandatory prison sentences by up to 25% under specific circumstances.

TIMELINE

Established July 1, 2029 as the repeal date for methamphetamine possession penalties in certain weight ranges.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified sentencing thresholds for controlled substances, creating new tiers based on weight and dosage units with varying penalties for different schedules.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2025

How they voted

437
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 51
Feb 13, 2025
D Democratic16
15 Yea 1
93% Yea
R Republican35
28 Yea 7 Nay
80% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
3
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Feb 18, 2025
Committee
Referred To Judiciary B;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency
lower
Feb 17, 2025
Introduced
Transmitted To House
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed As Amended
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Committee
Referred To Judiciary, Division B
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Daniel Sparks
Daniel Sparks
RRepublican
MS
5