The Senate approved a bill making strict controls and stiff penalties for fentanyl-related drugs permanent, passing with bipartisan support. This legislation designates fentanyl analogues as Schedule I substances, cementing penalties akin to those for heroin and LSD. The bill's passage, with a vote of 84 to 16, is significant in the context of the ongoing opioid crisis, which saw around 76,000 overdose deaths attributed to synthetic opioids in 2023. This new measure aims to empower law enforcement against the rampant issue of drug trafficking and abuse.
The bipartisan vote reflected consensus among Republicans and a solid bloc of Democrats that stiffening penalties for fentanyl-related drugs is crucial for responding to the overdose crisis.
No longer do drug enforcement agencies need to play this game of Whac-a-Mole. It’s a nightmare for law enforcement, said Senator Grassley.
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