Although some states allow medical and recreational use of certain drugs, South Carolina is not among them. Here, drug laws are strict, and a conviction can result in serious criminal consequences. It is important to understand SC drug laws to avoid being convicted of serious drug offenses, and a Myrtle Beach drug crime lawyer from our firm can help.
Drug trafficking, possession, and use can all trigger police involvement and legal consequences. If you have been arrested for or accused of drug crimes, it is essential that you hire a criminal defense attorney right away. Our team at Axelrod & Associates, P.A., is here to help you during this time. We can help you with your case and maintain your innocence in a South Carolina court.
In 2023, over 870,000 Americans were arrested for drug crimes, or one arrest every 35 seconds.
The drug crimes defense lawyers at Axelrod & Associates have extensive experience defending clients against simple possession charges, possession with intent to distribute (PWID) charges, drug manufacturing charges, drug distribution charges, and drug trafficking charges for most types of drugs, including:
If you have been charged with a drug crime in SC, there may be hope. You may have defenses that you are unaware of, key evidence may be suppressed in your case, you may have pretrial options that could allow you to avoid a conviction, or you may have options that allow you to stay out of jail, depending on the facts of your case.
If the matter is serious, your counsel should be exceptional.
Your drug crimes defense lawyer on the Axelrod team can meet with you, investigate your case, get all the evidence that the State intends to use against you, and research the law as applied to your case.
Your attorney can then gather all available evidence and witnesses that we may need to 1) file motions to dismiss or to suppress the evidence in your case based on constitutional violations, 2) get your case dismissed before trial, or 3) try your case to a jury when necessary.
Some drug offenses in SC are based on possession. Whether it is simple possession, possession with intent to distribute, or drug trafficking, the State must prove that you possessed the drugs (either “actual possession” or “constructive possession”).
The “level” of the offense – simple possession, PWID, or trafficking – is then based on the weight of the drugs found.
Other drug offenses, like distribution or manufacturing, require proof of different elements. Below, we are going to look at the most common drug offenses, what the State must prove to get a conviction, and the potential penalties.
“Simple” possession means the lowest level of drug possession and is based on the weight of the drugs found. When you have a small amount of drugs in your possession, the law can assume that you do not intend to sell or distribute them.
For example:
| Drug | Weight | Offense |
| Marijuana | One ounce or less | Simple possession |
| Hashish | Ten grams or less | Simple possession |
| Cocaine, crack cocaine, or methamphetamine | Less than one gram | Simple possession |
| Heroin or fentanyl | Four grains or less (grains, not grams) | Simple possession |
Simple possession is often charged as a misdemeanor. Although misdemeanors are still serious, they carry significantly lighter punishments than felony offenses.
Possession with intent to distribute is often charged when the weight of the drugs exceeds the “threshold amount” under SC law, but that is not enough for a PWID conviction.
The State must prove that the defendant intended to distribute the drugs in question. The weight of the drugs may create a rebuttable inference that the defendant intended to distribute them, but a jury may find the defendant guilty of the lesser included offense of possession when the State does not have additional evidence of intent to distribute like:
The current threshold amounts that create an inference of possession with intent to distribute include:
| Drug | Weight | Offense |
| Marijuana | More than one ounce, less than ten pounds | PWID |
| Hashish | More than ten grams | PWID |
| Cocaine, crack cocaine, or methamphetamine | More than one gram, less than ten grams | PWID |
| Heroin or fentanyl | More than four grains, less than four grams | PWID |
Drug possession with intent to distribute is always charged as a felony, which carries significant punishments and long-term consequences.
Although drug manufacturing charges can apply to any type of controlled substance, the most common are manufacturing marijuana (growing marijuana, whether it is outdoors or in a grow room or tent) and manufacturing meth.
Charges for manufacturing meth require the State to prove that you had a sufficient number of “precursors” to make the product, and they may be accompanied by other related charges like exposing children to meth operations or disposal of waste from meth production.
Although drug distribution charges can be based on any transfer of a controlled substance, whether you are giving it away, sharing it, or selling it, they usually arise from one or more “controlled buys” conducted by law enforcement with help from informants.
The most common type of “drug sting” involves an informant, often someone who is facing their own charges and is hoping for help on their sentence, who makes a drug buy at the direction of law enforcement.
They are usually wired for video or sound, given marked bills with which to make the buy, sent to make the purchase as agents, told to wait somewhere nearby, and searched before and after the buy.
Law enforcement often makes two or more controlled buys before they seek an arrest warrant and a search warrant for the location of the buys, and there are often additional charges based on the drugs found during the arrest and search of the location.
Drug trafficking charges in SC can be based on possession (actual or constructive) or conspiracy.
The most common basis for trafficking charges is possession of drugs where the weight exceeds the threshold weight. For example:
Drug trafficking is a graduated offense – the penalties increase as the weight of the drugs found increases, up to as much as 40 years in prison for a second offense trafficking 28 grams or more of heroin or fentanyl.
The potential defenses to any drug crime in SC can vary based on the nature of the charge and the facts of your case, but some of the more common defenses include:
In many cases, pretrial diversion programs are available like Pretrial Intervention (PTI), Drug Court, or a conditional discharge.
When people think about a drug charge, they usually focus on the immediate consequences. However, a conviction can follow you for years, and it can quietly affect your ability to move forward with your life.
One of the biggest challenges that people face after a conviction is finding a job. Most employers run background checks, and a drug-related offense can make it much harder to get hired. Even if you’re qualified, that record can raise concerns that lead employers to pass you over.
For those in licensed professions, like healthcare, education, or real estate, the consequences can be even more serious. A conviction could mean losing your license or being denied the ability to work in your field altogether.
In addition, landlords check criminal histories before approving applications, and a drug conviction can make it difficult to secure a lease. This can leave individuals and families scrambling to find stable housing, often leaving them with fewer and less desirable options.
If the charge is a felony, the stakes are even higher. A felony conviction can result in the loss of your right to own or possess a firearm, which can impact both your personal life and certain career opportunities. Beyond that, there’s also the social stigma, where a conviction can affect your relationships, your reputation, and your overall quality of life.
All of these factors combine to highlight why it’s so important to work with a Myrtle Beach drug crime attorney from the start. Not just to address the current case, but to protect your future under South Carolina’s drug crime laws.
For college students, a drug conviction can quickly turn into an academic and financial crisis. Federal aid, including FAFSA and student loans, can be reduced or lost entirely, depending on the situation. Without that support, many students struggle to stay enrolled or are forced to put their education on hold.
Colleges and universities also have their own disciplinary systems, separate from the courts. This means a student could be dealing with criminal charges while also facing school-imposed consequences like suspension, expulsion, or removal from campus housing. These proceedings often move fast and don’t always offer the same protections as a courtroom, which can put students at a disadvantage.
What many people don’t realize is that even an arrest without a conviction can trigger these school actions. Universities sometimes even conduct their own investigations and make decisions based on their own internal policies, as opposed to criminal standards. That makes it incredibly important to take any charge seriously from day one.
Juveniles face similar risks. Getting caught up in the system at a young age can create a record that follows them into adulthood, affecting everything from college admissions to future job opportunities. Even when the case is handled in juvenile court, the impact can linger in ways that families don’t expect.
With the guidance of a Myrtle Beach drug crime attorney from Axelrod & Associates, P.A., families can make informed decisions, and with the right approach, it’s possible to navigate South Carolina’s drug crime laws in a way that protects a young person’s future, not just their present.
PWID stands for “possession with intent to distribute.” This means that you not only have drugs in your possession, but you also have the intention of giving them away or selling them to others. The law determines intent by the volume of drugs that you have in your possession. If you exceed the weight limit for a certain drug, the law assumes that you cannot be using the drug alone and that you must be distributing it in some way.
Generally, yes. Simple possession of drugs is the lightest drug crime, and the punishment depends upon the type of drug and the amount in your possession. A small amount that is clearly for personal use usually yields the lightest charges. The first offense is sometimes prosecuted as a misdemeanor, but subsequent arrests could be considered felonies.
Possession with intent to distribute (PWID) carries more severe punishments and is always prosecuted as a felony.
Some drugs, such as those prescribed by physicians, are legal in South Carolina. However, non-prescription drugs are illegal. Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, non-prescribed fentanyl, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, and other similar drugs are still illegal, whether you simply have some in your possession or are making or distributing them.
It is important to understand that, although marijuana is legal in some states, it is currently not legal for medical or recreational use in South Carolina.
Yes. Possession with intent to distribute (PWID) is always considered a felony in South Carolina. This applies no matter the type of drug in your possession. PWID charges occur when you have more than a certain weight of a drug in your possession. If you are under this threshold, you might be charged with possession, which is generally a misdemeanor rather than a felony.
When you hire a drug crime lawyer from Axelrod & Associates, P.A., you’re hiring legal counsel that knows the local courts, attorneys, prosecutors, officers, criminal procedures, and criminal laws, and has access to investigators and professionals to assist with any issue that may arise in your case.
We have experience with drug prosecutions at all levels of the court system in SC, including jury trials, post-conviction relief (PCR) proceedings, and appeals.
If you have been charged with a drug crime in SC or believe that you are under investigation, call 843-353-3449 now or complete our contact form to set up a free initial consultation.
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