Posted on 03/08/2023 3:57:43 PM PST by Libloather
Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday voted against legislation that would permanently classify both fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances (FRS) as Schedule 1 drugs that carry the toughest penalties for trafficking and possession.
Republicans say the growing fentanyl problem in America means the U.S. should permanently treat those drugs as Schedule 1 substances in the hopes of boosting penalties and stopping their spread. In 2018, the Trump administration temporarily scheduled FRS as a Schedule 1 drug in light of the growing number of fentanyl-related deaths, and Congress has extended that temporary status a few times since then.
House Republicans argue that it’s time to permanently reclassify fentanyl and FRS, and they called up a bill to do so in the Energy and Commerce health subcommittee on Wednesday to stop what several Republicans called the poisoning of tens of thousands of American citizens.
The subcommittee approved the bill in a 17-10 vote in which every Democrat voted against it except for Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn. Other Democrats rejected the bill after arguing that the change should be coupled with an end to mandatory minimum sentences for FRS charges.
Specifically, Democrats said FRS cases that don’t lead to death or serious bodily harm should not carry mandatory minimum sentences, and they broadly argued that Republicans need to treat the matter more like a health crisis and less like a criminal crisis.
"Mandatory minimums should take into account whether the cases involve overdoses or serious bodily harm," said Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif.
Another Democrat, Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, said Democrats support the Biden administration’s plan to only apply mandatory minimum sentences for FRS unless an offense results in serious harm or death, and to let people sentenced to seek lower sentences if an FRS is later classified as...
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
If it was a schedule 1 it could not be prescribed to anyone.
It does have medical uses and is used in hospitals. Unless I am mistaken Schedule 1 drugs are all banned and have no (approved) medical use.
The pro-death party strikes again.
Correct. I have had multiple surgeries in which fentanyl was used. It’s good stuff when used properly.
This entire Schedule I push is barking up the wrong tree. There wasn’t a fentanyl problem until relatively recently. The real problem is found in the bad actors China, drug cartels and illegal immigration. Fixing immigration solves tons of problems.
The bill is stupid. schedule 1 is drugs “ with no medical use”:
Fentanyl is used every day in ERs ORs ICUs and ambulances . It’s an effective versatile extremely useful medication. Banning its medical use won’t stop illicit use anymore then it stopped Heroin or Methamphtamine use. Stupid.
This should be the clearest sign yet of the dimmocommie’s desire to see the end of our country. Anyone voting for dimmocommies either is absolutely stupid or also wants to see the end of our country.
They’re just stupid.
We need bullets, not laws.
It’s given to cancer patients. They have it in a patch. Was the a trick to make Republicans look bad?
It is used for cancer patients.
It should be used for legitimate medical purposes. Matter of fact, I have a lot of problem with hyperregulation of some drugs that result in many cases of people needlessly suffering from serious medical conditions and yet the mentality that it’s use as a street drug is sometimes actually encouraged.
However, this vague law would work towards decrimalizing if for the illicit drug trade.
The thing that threw me was that it’s so seldom that democrats actually make correct decisions on anything, that this was a surprise, and it makes me suspicious about what is in more of the legislation.
Obviously fentanyl cannot be classified in Schedule I, it’s in use every day in every ICU in the United States.
Whose moronic idea was this?
The real problem is the demand.
Heroin (diacetylmorphine) is US Schedule I.
Exactly.
Schedule 1 is for prohibited meds.
Fentanyl has valid medical uses... only fools use it for fun as it can be deadly.
Rge real problem is supply. The market is being flooded with it. It's now cheaper than drugs that should be much cheaper.
I did not know it had medical uses.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.