(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) voted for H.R. 467, the HALT Fentanyl Act. H.R. 467 would make the class-wide Schedule I order for fentanyl-related substances permanent while supporting research efforts to understand the effects of fentanyl-related substances on people's health. Illicit fentanyl poisonings are now the number one cause of death among Americans aged 18-49.
Under current law, starting December January 1, 2025, fentanyl related substances will no longer be Schedule I and effectively legal unless the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) schedules each specific chemical formula one by one. H.R. 467 would permanently place the class in Schedule I to remove incentive for the creation of new fentanyl related substances.
“Illicit fentanyl is created for one purpose and one purpose only, to poison the person taking it. There are no known medical uses of fentanyl-related substances, yet drug traffickers can escape criminal penalties by altering the chemical makeup of their product just enough so that it’s not legally a controlled substance. Often times, illicit fentanyl is just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than fentanyl. This bill closes that loophole,” said Congressman LaMalfa. “Not a day goes by in which a promising life is not taken by a fentanyl-related substance. Combatting this epidemic is a bipartisan effort, our Republican-led bill has garnered support from President Biden. I voted for this critical bill, and I hope it can swiftly pass through the Senate and end up on the President’s desk for a signature soon.”
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
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