South Carolina § 44-53-1530 - Possessing anabolic steroids without a prescription, or prescribing anabolic steroids, by nonpractitioner, pharmacist, or veterinarian unlawful; penalties.

§ 44-53-1530. Possessing anabolic steroids without a prescription, or prescribing anabolic steroids, by nonpractitioner, pharmacist, or veterinarian unlawful; penalties.

It is unlawful for any person who is not a practitioner, pharmacist, or veterinarian to knowingly or intentionally possess anabolic steroids as defined in this article unless the steroids were obtained directly from, or pursuant to a valid prescription or order of, a practitioner while acting in the course of his professional practice. It is unlawful for any person who is not a practitioner, pharmacist, or veterinarian to knowingly or intentionally prescribe, dispense, deliver, or administer anabolic steroids to a person. Any person who violates this article with respect to:

(1) prescription, dispensation, delivery, or administration of an anabolic steroid, or delivery of an anabolic steroid to a person for human use without any purpose other than a valid medical purpose, or the sale or delivery of an anabolic steroid to a person for human use without a valid prescription, or the prescription, dispensation, delivery, or administration of an anabolic steroid to a person by any person who is not a practitioner, pharmacist, or veterinarian, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows:

(a) for a first offense, imprisoned for a term not to exceed five years or fined in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars, or both;

(b) for a second or subsequent offense, imprisoned for a term not to exceed ten years or fined in an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars, or both;

(2) possession of ten or fewer dosage units of anabolic steroids without a valid prescription is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows:

(a) for a first offense, imprisoned for a term not to exceed six months or fined in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars;

(b) for a second or subsequent offense, imprisoned for a term not to exceed one year or fined in an amount not to exceed two thousand dollars, or both;

(3) possession of more than ten but fewer than one hundred dosage-units of anabolic steroids without a valid prescription is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows:

(a) for a first offense, imprisoned for a term not to exceed one year or fined in an amount not to exceed two thousand dollars, or both;

(b) for a second or subsequent offense, imprisoned for a term not to exceed two years or fined in an amount not to exceed three thousand dollars, or both;

(4) possession of more than one hundred dosage-units of anabolic steroids without a valid prescription is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows:

(a) for a first offense, imprisoned for a term not to exceed five years or fined in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars, or both;

(b) for a second or subsequent offense, imprisoned for a term not to exceed ten years or fined in an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars, or both.

HISTORY: 1989 Act No. 115, SECTION 1.