The bill permanently classifies substances related to fentanyl into Schedule I through the Senate
The Senate passed a bipartisan bill Friday that would permanently classify fentanyl-related substances, also known as fentanyl analogs, into Schedule I substances in the Controlled Substances Act.
The Stop Fentanyl Act received overwhelming support, with 84 votes and 16 votes against it. The bill aims to bridge loopholes exploited by drug traffickers who will smuggle substances with chemical components similar to fentanyl, but are different enough to evade legal penalties.
“The role of the bill – ‘Well, it’s illegal to introduce fentanyl.’ However, it recognizes that some of the people who are trying to introduce fentanyl will try to bypass the law by changing fentanyl so that it becomes what it calls a simulation.
“‘Oh, this is not fentanyl. You can’t spoil me because it’s not actually fentanyl.’ No, it still attracts it like fentanyl.
I blame Biden’s border crisis on my teen’s fentanyl death and thank Trump for trying to end this scourge
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office announced its office on Twitter that the Narcotics Task Force recycled 42,000 grams of illegal fentanyl from Oakland and Hayward. (Alameda County Sheriff’s Office)
Democrats tried to get the bill passed, believing that the bill was not capable enough to combat the entire fentanyl crisis, which would increase mass incarceration and limit research on these fentanyl analogs, thus placing it in a stricter regulatory category.
But Republican sponsors of the bill believe that this will reduce bureaucratic barriers in fentanyl analogue research and open the door to more scientists to study these new substances. Keith Humphreys, a drug policy expert at Stanford University and former White House drug control policy adviser, also questioned the argument that it would increase mass incarceration, noting that possession or transportation of fentanyl analogs is already illegal.
Halt Fentanyl Act does not generate any new mandatory minimum sentencing, but it places substances associated with fentanyl under the same sentencing guidelines for fentanyl itself.
Sad parents fight against the bipartisan fentanyl bill with claims disguised by Soros-backed groups.
During a news call Friday, some Republican sponsors of the bill were before the Pause Act passed, Sen. James Rankford (R-Okla).
In 2023, more than 107,000 people died from drug overdose, with nearly 70% of the deaths attributed to fentanyl. (Getty Image)
“Frankly, this is a major achievement to be able to pass this in the fight against fentanyl,” Rankford added.
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Other potential measures to fight the fentanyl crisis, including efforts to strengthen law enforcement of drug-interception efforts and legislation to follow the veterinary drug chorizine (adding it to fentanyl) to make it more addictive, which is an additional effort from Capitol Hill.
