Interesting news on the drug war from Washington, D.C., last week. Jessica Wehrman, who covers the capital for us, wrote: “Youngstown-area U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan this week joined Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., to introduce a bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act to ensure that the law reflects the potency of fentanyl. The Stop Trafficking in Fentanyl Act would reduce the amount of fentanyl needed to invoke the most serious trafficking penalties for an individual trafficking and manufacturing the drug.
“The bill,” she reported, “would lower the threshold that triggers federal penalties from 400 grams to 20 grams to ensure that the law appropriately reflects the extreme strength of the drug.”
Ryan told Wehrman: “Ohio has seen yet another record-breaking year for overdose-related deaths, many due to fentanyl. We are losing too many of our friends, neighbors, and relatives to this destructive drug epidemic. We must respond to this crisis from all sides by improving coordination to reduce the number of drugs available, while also increasing and expanding access to treatment for those who are suffering.”
Your thoughts? Email rrollins@coxohio.com.
About the Author
