S.331 - Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act; HALT Fentanyl Act (119th Congress)
Summary
The HALT Fentanyl Act (S.331) aims to combat fentanyl trafficking by amending the Controlled Substances Act. It introduces class-wide scheduling for fentanyl-related substances, treating them as Schedule I drugs, with some exceptions for substances controlled by the Attorney General or listed in other schedules. The Act also streamlines research registration processes for Schedule I controlled substances, particularly for research funded by or conducted within specific government departments.
Expected Effects
This act is likely to lead to stricter enforcement against fentanyl-related substances, potentially reducing their availability. The streamlined research processes could accelerate studies on these substances, leading to better understanding and potential treatments. However, it could also create challenges for legitimate researchers and businesses working with related compounds.
Potential Benefits
- Reduced availability of fentanyl-related substances, potentially decreasing overdose deaths.
- Streamlined research processes, potentially accelerating the development of treatments for addiction and overdose.
- Enhanced ability of law enforcement to prosecute fentanyl traffickers.
- Increased transparency regarding special research procedures.
- Technical corrections to controlled substances dispensing, improving clarity and accuracy of existing laws.
Potential Disadvantages
- Broad scheduling of fentanyl-related substances could inadvertently affect legitimate research or industrial applications.
- Stricter penalties could disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
- Potential delays or complications for researchers unfamiliar with the new registration processes.
- Increased burden on the Attorney General to manage the scheduling and exemption processes.
- Possible challenges in differentiating between fentanyl-related substances and other compounds with similar structures.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The HALT Fentanyl Act aligns with the Constitution's broad goals of providing for the general Welfare (Preamble) and ensuring domestic Tranquility (Preamble) by addressing the opioid crisis. Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8) provides a basis for controlling the trafficking of fentanyl and related substances. The Act's provisions regarding research and drug scheduling fall under Congress's legislative powers.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).