House bill to classify all fentanyl as a Schedule 1 drug passes 289-133
The House approved a bill Thursday that would classify all fentanyl as a Schedule 1 substance, the most dangerous drug classification. The GOP-led legislation, which was backed by the White House, passed the House 289-133.
Classifying all fentanyl substances as a Schedule 1 drug — currently, only some substances related to fentanyl are Schedule 1 — would allow for tougher penalties and spur more research into a drug that has claimed the lives of thousands of Americans. have taken Schedule 1 drugs have no medical use, and are extremely lethal. Rep. Morgan Griffiths, Republican of Virginia, and Bob Latta, Republican of Ohio, introduced the All Fatal Trafficking in Fentanyl Act.
The White House threw its support behind the bill, noting that its provisions are key components of the Biden-Harris administration’s 2021 recommendations to Congress.
“The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently schedule all fentanyl-related substances not otherwise designated as a class in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act and would expedite research into fentanyl-related substances, which The administration has long been supportive.” The Office of Management and Budget said. “… The Administration calls on Congress to pass all of these important measures to improve public safety and save lives.”
Drug Enforcement Administration
The opioid and fentanyl crisis that was already tearing families apart before the COVID-19 pandemic worsened as the coronavirus caused overdose deaths in the U.S. to jump from 70,630 in 2019 to 91,799 in 2020. 106,699 in 2021. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
The Drug Enforcement Administration says fentanyl is involved in more deaths in Americans under 50 than any other cause of death. This includes heart disease, suicide, homicide and cancer among other causes.
“With today’s bipartisan vote to advance the HALT Fentanyl Act in the House, we are one step closer to ending the devastating fentanyl poisoning crisis and saving American lives,” Latta said in a statement. “For too long, our nation has battled the opioid epidemic fueled by illegal fentanyl and its analogs in recent years, which will kill more than 5,000 Ohioans and 70,000 Americans in 2021. Send Bill And send it to the president’s desk to be signed into law. Our constituents need this solution, and lives will be at risk if we don’t act. It’s time to kill this bill. Go.”
