Establishing 3-year mandatory prison sentence for person convicted of illegal possession of Schedule I and Schedule II drugs

SB 444 would require a mandatory 3-year prison sentence for anyone convicted of illegally possessing Schedule I or II controlled substances (excluding cannabis). This applies to drugs like opioids, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, but not to cannabis or minor amounts of marijuana. The bill includes exceptions for people who were incidentally exposed to the drugs or forced to possess them, and allows conditional discharge for first-time offenders. It also specifies that possession of Schedule V drugs remains a misdemeanor with lesser penalties.