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

This bill (SB 34) creates a mandatory 3-year prison sentence for anyone convicted of illegally possessing Schedule I or II controlled substances (excluding cannabis). It applies to possession offenses, with exceptions for people who were incidentally exposed to the substances or forced to possess them. First-time offenders may qualify for conditional discharge, and the bill specifies that cannabis possession is not covered by this new sentencing requirement. The law amends existing West Virginia drug statutes to enforce these penalties.