As permitted in accordance with 21 U.S.C. § 862a(d)(1)(A), this state exempts itself from the application of 21 U.S.C. § 862a(a)(1).
The department may not deny benefits otherwise available under this chapter to an applicant solely because the applicant has been convicted, under state or federal law, of an offense that is classified as a felony and which has as an element the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance, as defined in § 34-20B-3 or 21 U.S.C. § 802.