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Mississippi Legislature· HB 1613Approved by Governor (Chapter 451)

Drug trafficking; revise dosage units and regulate abortion-inducing drugs., the official text

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: Judiciary B

By: Representative

House Bill 1613

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-29-139, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972,
TO REVISE THE ELEMENTS FOR THE CRIME OF AGGRAVATED DRUG TRAFFICKING TO INCLUDE
267 OR MORE DOSAGE UNITS; TO CREATE A NEW SECTION OF LAW TO RESTRICT THE SALE
OF ABORTION-INDUCING DRUGS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1.  Section
41-29-139, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-29-139.  (a)  Transfer
and possession with intent to transfer.  Except as authorized by this
article, it is unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally:

(1)  To sell, barter,
transfer, manufacture, distribute, dispense or possess with intent to sell,
barter, transfer, manufacture, distribute or dispense, a controlled substance;
or

(2)  To create, sell,
barter, transfer, distribute, dispense or possess with intent to create, sell,
barter, transfer, distribute or dispense, a counterfeit substance.

(b)  Punishment for
transfer and possession with intent to transfer.  Except as otherwise
provided in Section 41-29-142, any person who violates subsection (a) of this
section shall be, if convicted, sentenced as follows:

(1)  For controlled
substances classified in Schedule I or II, as set out in Sections 41-29-113 and
41-29-115, other than marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids:

(A)  If
less than two (2) grams or ten (10) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more
than eight (8) years or a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000.00), or both.

(B)  If
two (2) or more grams or ten (10) or more dosage units, but less than ten (10)
grams or twenty (20) dosage units, by imprisonment for not less than three (3)
years nor more than twenty (20) years or a fine of not more than Two Hundred
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), or both.

(C)  If ten (10) or
more grams or twenty (20) or more dosage units, but less than thirty (30) grams
or forty (40) dosage units, by imprisonment for not less than five (5) years
nor more than thirty (30) years or a fine of not more than Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($500,000.00), or both.

(2)  (A)  For
marijuana:

1.  If thirty
(30) grams or less, by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years or a fine
of not more than Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00), or both;

2.  If more
than thirty (30) grams but less than two hundred fifty (250) grams, by
imprisonment for not more than five (5) years or a fine of not more than Five
Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both;

3.  If two
hundred fifty (250) or more grams but less than five hundred (500) grams, by
imprisonment for not less than three (3) years nor more than ten (10) years or
a fine of not more than Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00), or both;

4.  If five
hundred (500) or more grams but less than one (1) kilogram, by imprisonment for
not less than five (5) years nor more than twenty (20) years or a fine of not
more than Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), or both.

(B)  For synthetic
cannabinoids:

1.  If ten
(10) grams or less, by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years or a fine
of not more than Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00), or both;

2.  If more
than ten (10) grams but less than twenty (20) grams, by imprisonment for not
more than five (5) years or a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars
($5,000.00), or both;

3.  If twenty
(20) or more grams but less than forty (40) grams, by imprisonment for not less
than three (3) years nor more than ten (10) years or a fine of not more than
Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00), or both;

4.  If forty
(40) or more grams but less than two hundred (200) grams, by imprisonment for
not less than five (5) years nor more than twenty (20) years or a fine of not
more than Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), or both.

(3)  For controlled
substances classified in Schedules III and IV, as set out in Sections 41-29-117
and 41-29-119:

(A)  If
less than two (2) grams or ten (10) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more
than five (5) years or a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars
($5,000.00), or both;

(B)  If
two (2) or more grams or ten (10) or more dosage units, but less than ten (10)
grams or twenty (20) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than eight (8)
years or a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both;

(C)  If ten (10) or
more grams or twenty (20) or more dosage units, but less than thirty (30) grams
or forty (40) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than fifteen (15)
years or a fine of not more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), or
both;

(D)  If thirty (30)
or more grams or forty (40) or more dosage units, but less than five hundred
(500) grams or two thousand five hundred (2,500) dosage units, by imprisonment
for not more than twenty (20) years or a fine of not more than Two Hundred
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), or both.

(4)  For controlled
substances classified in Schedule V, as set out in Section 41-29-121:

(A)  If
less than two (2) grams or ten (10) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more
than one (1) year or a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00),
or both;

(B)  If
two (2) or more grams or ten (10) or more dosage units, but less than ten (10)
grams or twenty (20) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than five (5)
years or a fine of not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or both;

(C)  If ten (10) or
more grams or twenty (20) or more dosage units, but less than thirty (30) grams
or forty (40) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years or
a fine of not more than Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), or both;

(D)  For thirty
(30) or more grams or forty (40) or more dosage units, but less than five
hundred (500) grams or two thousand five hundred (2,500) dosage units, by
imprisonment for not more than fifteen (15) years or a fine of not more than
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both.

(c)  Simple possession.
Except as otherwise provided under subsection (i) of this section for actions
that are lawful under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act and in compliance
with rules and regulations adopted thereunder, it is unlawful for any person
knowingly or intentionally to possess any controlled substance unless the
substance was obtained directly from, or pursuant to, a valid prescription or
order of a practitioner while acting in the course of his professional
practice, or except as otherwise authorized by this article.  The penalties for
any violation of this subsection (c) with respect to a controlled substance
classified in Schedules I, II, III, IV or V, as set out in Section 41-29-113,
41-29-115, 41-29-117, 41-29-119 or 41-29-121, including marijuana or synthetic
cannabinoids, shall be based on dosage unit as defined herein or the weight of
the controlled substance as set forth herein as appropriate:

"Dosage unit (d.u.)"
means a tablet or capsule, or in the case of a liquid solution, one (1)
milliliter.  In the case of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) the term, "dosage
unit" means a stamp, square, dot, microdot, tablet or capsule of a
controlled substance.

For any controlled substance
that does not fall within the definition of the term "dosage unit,"
the penalties shall be based upon the weight of the controlled substance.

The weight set forth refers
to the entire weight of any mixture or substance containing a detectable amount
of the controlled substance.

If a mixture or substance
contains more than one (1) controlled substance, the weight of the mixture or
substance is assigned to the controlled substance that results in the greater
punishment.

A person shall be charged
and sentenced as follows for a violation of this subsection with respect to:

(1)  A controlled
substance classified in Schedule I or II, except marijuana and synthetic
cannabinoids:

(A)  If less than
one-tenth (0.1) gram or two (2) dosage units, the violation is a misdemeanor
and punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year or a fine of not
more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both.

(B)  If one-tenth
(0.1) gram or more or two (2) or more dosage units, but less than two (2) grams
or ten (10) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years or
a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both.

(C)  If two (2) or
more grams or ten (10) or more dosage units, but less than ten (10) grams or
twenty (20) dosage units, by imprisonment for not more than eight (8) years or
a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), or
both.

(D)  If ten (10) or
more grams or twenty (20) or more dosage units, but less than thirty (30) grams
or forty (40) dosage units, by imprisonment for not less than three (3) years
nor more than twenty (20) years or a fine of not more than Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), or both.

(2)  (A)  Marijuana and
synthetic cannabinoids:

1.  If thirty
(30) grams or less of marijuana or ten (10) grams or less of synthetic
cannabinoids, by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more
than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00).  The provisions of this paragraph
(2)(A) may be enforceable by summons if the offender provides proof of identity
satisfactory to the arresting officer and gives written promise to appear in
court satisfactory to the arresting officer, as directed by the summons.  A
second conviction under this section within two (2) years is a misdemeanor
punishable by a fine of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), not more than
sixty (60) days in the county jail, and mandatory participation in a drug
education program approved by the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse of the
State Department of Mental Health, unless the court enters a written finding
that a drug education program is inappropriate.  A third or subsequent
conviction under this paragraph (2)(A) within two (2) years is a misdemeanor
punishable by a fine of not less than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) nor
more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and confinement for not more than
six (6) months in the county jail.

Upon a first or second
conviction under this paragraph (2)(A), the courts shall forward a report of
the conviction to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics which shall make and
maintain a private, nonpublic record for a period not to exceed two (2) years
from the date of conviction.  The private, nonpublic record shall be solely for
the use of the courts in determining the penalties which attach upon conviction
under this paragraph (2)(A) and shall not constitute a criminal record for the
purpose of private or administrative inquiry and the record of each conviction
shall be expunged at the end of the period of two (2) years following the date
of such conviction;

2.
Additionally, a person who is the operator of a motor vehicle, who possesses on
his person or knowingly keeps or allows to be kept in a motor vehicle within
the area of the vehicle normally occupied by the driver or passengers, more
than one (1) gram, but not more than thirty (30) grams of marijuana or not more
than ten (10) grams of synthetic cannabinoids is guilty of a misdemeanor and,
upon conviction, may be fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or
confined for not more than ninety (90) days in the county jail, or both.  For
the purposes of this subsection, such area of the vehicle shall not include the
trunk of the motor vehicle or the areas not normally occupied by the driver or
passengers if the vehicle is not equipped with a trunk.  A utility or glove
compartment shall be deemed to be within the area occupied by the driver and
passengers.

(B)  Marijuana:

1.  If more
than thirty (30) grams but less than two hundred fifty (250) grams, by a fine
of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or confinement in the county
jail for not more than one (1) year, or both; or by a fine of not more than
Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00), or imprisonment in the custody of the
Department of Corrections for not more than three (3) years, or both;

2.  If two
hundred fifty (250) or more grams but less than five hundred (500) grams, by
imprisonment for not less than two (2) years nor more than eight (8) years or
by a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both;

3.  If five
hundred (500) or more grams but less than one (1) kilogram, by imprisonment for
not less than four (4) years nor more than sixteen (16) years or a fine of not
more than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), or both;

4.  If one (1)
kilogram or more but less than five (5) kilograms, by imprisonment for not less
than six (6) years nor more than twenty-four (24) years or a fine of not more
than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), or both;

5.  If five
(5) kilograms or more, by imprisonment for not less than ten (10) years nor
more than thirty (30) years or a fine of not more than One Million Dollars
($1,000,000.00), or both.

(C)  Synthetic
cannabinoids:

1.  If more
than ten (10) grams but less than twenty (20) grams, by a fine of not more than
One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or confinement in the county jail for not
more than one (1) year, or both; or by a fine of not more than Three Thousand
Dollars ($3,000.00), or imprisonment in the custody of the Department of
Corrections for not more than three (3) years, or both;

2.  If twenty
(20) or more grams but less than forty (40) grams, by imprisonment for not less
than two (2) years nor more than eight (8) years or by a fine of not more than
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both;

3.  If forty
(40) or more grams but less than two hundred (200) grams, by imprisonment for
not less than four (4) years nor more than sixteen (16) years or a fine of not
more than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), or both;

4.  If two
hundred (200) or more grams, by imprisonment for not less than six (6) years
nor more than twenty-four (24) years or a fine of not more than Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), or both.

(3)  A controlled
substance classified in Schedule III, IV or V as set out in Sections 41-29-117
through 41-29-121, upon conviction, may be punished as follows:

(A)  If less than
fifty (50) grams or less than one hundred (100) dosage units, the offense is a
misdemeanor and punishable by not more than one (1) year or a fine of not more
than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both.

(B)  If fifty (50)
or more grams or one hundred (100) or more dosage units, but less than one
hundred fifty (150) grams or five hundred (500) dosage units, by imprisonment
for not less than one (1) year nor more than four (4) years or a fine of not
more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or both.

(C)  If one hundred
fifty (150) or more grams or five hundred (500) or more dosage units, but less
than three hundred (300) grams or one thousand (1,000) dosage units, by
imprisonment for not less than two (2) years nor more than eight (8) years or a
fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both.

(D)  If three
hundred (300) or more grams or one thousand (1,000) or more dosage units, but
less than five hundred (500) grams or two thousand five hundred (2,500) dosage
units, by imprisonment for not less than four (4) years nor more than sixteen
(16) years or a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars
($250,000.00), or both.

(d)  Paraphernalia.
(1)  Except as otherwise provided under subsection (i) of this section for
actions that are lawful under the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act and in
compliance with rules and regulations adopted thereunder, it is unlawful for a
person who is not authorized by the State Board of Medical Licensure, State
Board of Pharmacy, or other lawful authority to use, or to possess with intent
to use, paraphernalia to plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest,
manufacture, compound, convert, produce, process, prepare, test, analyze, pack,
repack, store, contain, conceal, inject, ingest, inhale or otherwise introduce
into the human body a controlled substance in violation of the Uniform
Controlled Substances Law.  Any person who violates this subsection (d)(1) is
guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be confined in the county
jail for not more than six (6) months, or fined not more than Five Hundred
Dollars ($500.00), or both; however, no person shall be charged with a
violation of this subsection when such person is also charged with the
possession of thirty (30) grams or less of marijuana under subsection (c)(2)(A)
of this section.

(2)  It is unlawful for
any person to deliver, sell, possess with intent to deliver or sell, or
manufacture with intent to deliver or sell, paraphernalia, knowing, or under
circumstances where one reasonably should know, that it will be used to plant,
propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, manufacture, compound, convert, produce,
process, prepare, test, analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, conceal, inject,
ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce into the human body a controlled
substance in violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Law.  Except as
provided in subsection (d)(3), a person who violates this subsection (d)(2) is
guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be confined in the county
jail for not more than six (6) months, or fined not more than Five Hundred
Dollars ($500.00), or both.

(3)  Any person
eighteen (18) years of age or over who violates subsection (d)(2) of this
section by delivering or selling paraphernalia to a person under eighteen (18)
years of age who is at least three (3) years his junior is guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be confined in the county jail for not
more than one (1) year, or fined not more than One Thousand Dollars
($1,000.00), or both.

(4)  It is unlawful for
any person to place in any newspaper, magazine, handbill, or other publication
any advertisement, knowing, or under circumstances where one reasonably should
know, that the purpose of the advertisement, in whole or in part, is to promote
the sale of objects designed or intended for use as paraphernalia.  Any person
who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction,
may be confined in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or fined
not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or both.

(e)  It shall be unlawful
for any physician practicing medicine in this state to prescribe, dispense or
administer any amphetamine or amphetamine-like anorectics and/or central
nervous system stimulants classified in Schedule II, pursuant to Section 41-29-115,
for the exclusive treatment of obesity, weight control or weight loss.  Any
person who violates this subsection, upon conviction, is guilty of a
misdemeanor and may be confined for a period not to exceed six (6) months, or
fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both.

(f)  Trafficking.
(1)  Any person trafficking in controlled substances shall be guilty of a
felony and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term of not less than
ten (10) years nor more than forty (40) years and shall be fined not less than
Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) nor more than One Million Dollars
($1,000,000.00).  The ten-year mandatory sentence shall not be reduced or
suspended.  The person shall not be eligible for probation or parole, the provisions
of Sections 41-29-149, 47-5-139, 47-7-3 and 47-7-33, to the contrary
notwithstanding.

(2)  "Trafficking
in controlled substances" as used herein means:

(A)  A violation of
subsection (a) of this section involving thirty (30) or more grams or forty
(40) or more dosage units of a Schedule I or II controlled substance except
marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids;

(B)  A violation of
subsection (a) of this section involving five hundred (500) or more grams or
two thousand five hundred (2,500) or more dosage units of a Schedule III, IV or
V controlled substance;

(C)  A violation of
subsection (c) of this section involving thirty (30) or more grams or forty
(40) or more dosage units of a Schedule I or II controlled substance except
marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids;

(D)  A violation of
subsection (c) of this section involving five hundred (500) or more grams or
two thousand five hundred (2,500) or more dosage units of a Schedule III, IV or
V controlled substance; or

(E)  A violation of
subsection (a) of this section involving one (1) kilogram or more of marijuana
or two hundred (200) grams or more of synthetic cannabinoids.

(g)  Aggravated
trafficking.  Any person trafficking in Schedule I or II controlled
substances, except marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids, of two hundred (200)
grams or more or of two hundred sixty-seven (267) dosage units or more,
shall be guilty of aggravated trafficking and, upon conviction, shall be
sentenced to a term of not less than twenty-five (25) years nor more than life
in prison and shall be fined not less than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00)
nor more than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00).  The twenty-five-year
sentence shall be a mandatory sentence and shall not be reduced or suspended.
The person shall not be eligible for probation or parole, the provisions of
Sections 41-29-149, 47-5-139, 47-7-3 and 47-7-33, to the contrary
notwithstanding.

(h)  Sentence mitigation.
(1)  Notwithstanding any provision of this section, a person who has been
convicted of an offense under this section that requires the judge to impose a
prison sentence which cannot be suspended or reduced and is ineligible for
probation or parole may, at the discretion of the court, receive a sentence of
imprisonment that is no less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the sentence
prescribed by the applicable statute.  In considering whether to apply the
departure from the sentence prescribed, the court shall conclude that:

(A)  The
offender was not a leader of the criminal enterprise;

(B)  The
offender did not use violence or a weapon during the crime;

(C)  The
offense did not result in a death or serious bodily injury of a person not a
party to the criminal enterprise; and

(D)  The
interests of justice are not served by the imposition of the prescribed
mandatory sentence.

The court may also
consider whether information and assistance were furnished to a law enforcement
agency, or its designee, which, in the opinion of the trial judge, objectively
should or would have aided in the arrest or prosecution of others who violate
this subsection.  The accused shall have adequate opportunity to develop and
make a record of all information and assistance so furnished.

(2)  If the court
reduces the prescribed sentence pursuant to this subsection, it must specify on
the record the circumstances warranting the departure.

(i)  This section does not
apply to any of the actions that are lawful under the Mississippi Medical
Cannabis Act and in compliance with rules and regulations adopted thereunder.

SECTION 2.
(1)  It is unlawful for any person to knowingly or intentionally create, sell,
barter, transfer, manufacture, distribute, dispense, prescribe or possess with
knowledge or intent to create, sell, barter, transfer, manufacture, distribute,
dispense or prescribe an "abortion-inducing drug," which is defined
as a medicine, drug or any other substance prescribed or dispensed with the
intent of terminating the clinically diagnosable pregnancy of a woman to cause
the death of the unborn child, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the
State of Mississippi.  This includes the use of drugs known to have abortion-inducing
properties, which are prescribed specifically with the intent of causing an
abortion.  Use of those drugs to induce abortion is also known as "medical
abortion."  This definition does not apply to drugs that may be known to
cause an abortion but are prescribed for other medical indications, such as
chemotherapeutic agents and diagnostic drugs, or are used in the course of
medical care that is lawful under the laws of the State of Mississippi and
within the physician's reasonable medical judgment and the applicable standard
of care, including, but not limited to, the treatment of miscarriage, ectopic
pregnancy, fetal demise, induction of labor, and management of postpartum
complications.

(2)  Any person who violates
subsection (1) of this section shall be, if convicted, punished by imprisonment
in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year
nor more than ten (10) years.  In addition to the criminal penalties provided
for in this subsection (2), the Attorney General may bring a civil action in
the name of the State of Mississippi to enjoin any violation of subsection (1)
of this section related to abortion-inducing drugs, to obtain declaratory or
injunctive relief, and to recover civil penalties and costs.  The court may
make such additional orders or judgments, including restitution, as may be
necessary for damages proximately caused by a violation of this section related
to abortion-inducing drugs.  It is not a defense to civil liability under this
subsection (2) that a defendant has been acquitted or has not been prosecuted
or convicted under this section or has been convicted of a different offense or
of a different type or class of offense, for the conduct that is alleged to
give rise to liability under this subsection (2).  Civil actions provided under
this subsection (2) are cumulative and do not preclude criminal prosecution.

SECTION 3.  This act
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.
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