Senate Bill 483 Summary

• Reclassifies possession of marijuana or hashish not exceeding one-half ounce of marijuana or one-twentieth ounce of hashish from a Class 3 misdemeanor to an infraction, effective December 1, 2021.

• Increases marijuana possession to a Class I felony if quantity exceeds one and one-half ounces of marijuana, three-twentieths ounce of hashish, or any amount of synthetic tetrahydrocannabinols.

• Mandates automatic expunction of prior misdemeanor marijuana or hashish possession convictions by December 1, 2023, with courts ordered to expunge records and notify law enforcement and government agencies.

• Directs the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government to study which Class 3 misdemeanors have low public safety impact and whether to reclassify them as infractions, with findings due to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety by March 7, 2022.

• Appropriates $4,200,000 in recurring annual funds for the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium each to the Administrative Office of the Courts for drug treatment court programs and for creation and funding of mental health court programs.