Little Apple Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) voted yes to H.R. 467, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act, which would permanently list fentanyl-related substances under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), putting the drug in the same legal category as heroin, PCP, and crack cocaine. This legislation will also give researchers the ability to conduct studies on fentanyl to understand the overall effects that it has on Americans’ health.  

“The fentanyl crisis is devastating American families,” said Rep. Mann. “President Biden has created a crisis at our Southern Border, where fentanyl floods in daily. While my Republican colleagues work to secure our border and hold President Biden accountable, this legislation will help us also utilize law enforcement as a tool to tackle the fentanyl crisis. This legislation recognizes the danger of fentanyl-related substances, puts them in the same legal category as the most dangerous drugs, and gives researchers new abilities to study the drug’s effects. As drug overdose deaths reach historic levels in our country and the border crisis worsens every day, this legislation works to save precious lives amidst the tragedy of addiction.” 

The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently place fentanyl-related substances into Schedule I of the CSA; simplify registration processes for certain research with Schedule I substances, removing barriers that currently impede such work; and provide for the exemption of individual fentanyl-related substances from Schedule I when evidence demonstrates it is appropriate. 

In fiscal year 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized more than 9,000 pounds of illicit fentanyl coming across the southern border, enough to kill more than 2.1 billion people, or over 6.4 times the U.S. population. Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. 

Original source can be found here.