{"id":2071269,"date":"2023-10-18T05:21:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T09:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-imposes-harsher-punishment-for-fentanyl-possession\/"},"modified":"2023-10-18T05:30:02","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T09:30:02","slug":"california-imposes-harsher-punishment-for-fentanyl-possession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-imposes-harsher-punishment-for-fentanyl-possession\/","title":{"rendered":"California toughens penalties for fentanyl possession."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-imposes-harsher-punishment-for-fentanyl-possession%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2071269&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>California Strengthens \u200bPenalties for Fentanyl Possession<\/h2>\n<p>While multiple fentanyl bills introduced in the Legislature this year designed to increase penalties\u200c for distribution were killed by lawmakers, one proposal made it to California Gov. Gavin\u200b Newsom\u2019s desk, where he signed\u2064 it into law Oct. 8.<\/p>\n<p>Assembly Bill 701, authored by \u200bAssemblyman Carlos Villapudua (D-Stockton), strengthens\u200d penalties for those convicted of possessing\u2064 at least\u2063 one \u2062kilogram of fentanyl\u2014enough of the drug to kill 500,000 people, \u2063according to \u200dDrug Enforcement Administration calculations\u2014by adding the synthetic opioid to \u2063a list of existing controlled substances \u200dregulated by California \u2064law.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAB 701 allows us to finally take illegal fentanyl distribution as seriously as we take heroin and cocaine distribution,\u201d Mr. Villapudua told The Epoch Times by email Oct. 16. \u201cGiven this \u200dpoison is 50\u200c times more potent than these other\u2064 dangerous substances, this is\u200b a commonsense step for\u2064 us to take.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-4 sm:line-clamp-3\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-colleges-required-to-stock-fentanyl-tests-under-new-law-5508288?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-sm sm:text-base\">California Colleges Required to Stock Fentanyl\u200c Tests Under New Law<\/h3>\n<p>            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">10\/11\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[70px] sm:basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-colleges-required-to-stock-fentanyl-tests-under-new-law-5508288?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">\n            <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" https:><\/source><source type=\"image\/*\" https:><\/source>\n            <\/picture>\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-4 sm:line-clamp-3\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-seized-enough-fentanyl-in-2023-to-kill-states-population-over-68-times-5482885?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-sm sm:text-base\">California Seized\u2064 Enough Fentanyl in 2023 to\u2062 Kill State\u2019s \u2063Population Over 68 Times<\/h3>\n<p>            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">8\/29\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[70px] sm:basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-seized-enough-fentanyl-in-2023-to-kill-states-population-over-68-times-5482885?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">\n            <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" https:><\/source><source type=\"image\/*\" https:><\/source>\n            <\/picture>\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Under the new law, sentencing guidelines will recommend three-year enhancements for possession of one kilogram of fentanyl, with penalties stepping up for larger quantities and \u200cincreasing up to 25 years for possession of\u2064 80 kilograms \u2064or more.<\/p>\n<p>The author noted that while\u2064 the new law will help, more attention regarding the \u200dsurge of fentanyl use and deaths from the drug\u200c is needed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis \u2063is just the first of many important steps California needs \u2064to take for\u2063 our families that are reeling from this tragedy,\u201d Mr.\u200b Villapudua said. \u200d\u201cThey need\u200d to know that they remain top of mind when we are \u200cin Sacramento, and that we\u2064 are taking action to\u200b hold\u200c these traffickers accountable for the devastation they are causing.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The bill took a tumultuous\u2063 path to become law, with the\u200d Assembly Public Safety Committee first blocking the \u2063measure in March\u2014after Chair Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) suggested the\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-imposes-harsher-punishment-for-fentanyl-possession\/\" title=\"California toughens penalties for fentanyl possession.\">proposal resembled\u200d \u201cfailed\u201d strategies\u2063 employed decades ago<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI \u2063also remember \u200bthe same kind of conversation around crack cocaine,\u2064 and then we started\u200c the \u2062War on Drugs because we were scared,\u201d Mr. Jones-Sawyer said at\u200d the time. \u201cWe do need to\u200d continue to look at ways we can do this from a public health\u200b standpoint.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One Democratic member on the committee, Assemblyman Rick Chavez \u2064Zbur (D-Los Angeles)\u2063 argued in favor of the bill, telling his colleagues that fentanyl is different from other drugs because of its lethality and \u200bthe insidious nature\u200b by which it is poisoning unsuspecting \u2063victims.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not someone\u200d who believes in penalty enhancements, I really \u200bdon\u2019t,\u201d Mr. Zbur said. \u201cThe difference for me in this bill is that \u2026 this is a penalty enhancement that \u200bis already \u2063in place for drugs \u200bthat I think are less harmful than fentanyl.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>The California State Capitol building in Sacramento, Calif., on March 11, 2023. (John Fredricks\/The Epoch\u200d Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>While he voted against other bills that\u2064 would\u200c have increased penalties \u2064for fentanyl possession and \u2062distribution, he said he supported AB 701 because it focused on high-level dealers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s targeted to people that \u2062are not using it \u200dor selling it on the street,\u201d Mr.\u200b Zbur said. \u201cIt\u2019s directed at people that are really doing horrible things \u2063to our kids.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After four Democratic members of the safety committee \u2063chose \u200bto not vote on the measure, it\u200d initially failed, though it was brought up for reconsideration in what was described as an unprecedented \u2062special hearing in April\u2014where it\u200b subsequently passed with no \u2064discussion or commentary permitted \u2063by the chair.<\/p>\n<p>Opponents of the measure included the California Public Defenders Association, who argued the bill \u200cwill\u200d fail \u200bto achieve its\u2062 goals of reducing opioid dependency yet will result in more incarcerations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAB 701 relies on outdated War on Drugs mentality\u200b and would end up creating more \u200bharm than it would prevent,\u201d the\u2062 public defenders&#8217; group wrote in legislative analyses.\u2064 \u201cRelying \u2063on\u2062 ever increasing penalties \u2063for drug offenses has \u2064been extensively researched, and we can therefore make some educated \u2064predictions about the outcome of\u200d bills\u200c like AB\u200b 701: it would not reduce the\u2064 distribution \u2063of fentanyl nor would it prevent \u2064overdoses; it would reduce neither the supply\u2062 of drugs or\u2064 the demand for them; and worse, it could actually discourage effective methods of dealing with the opioid crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Supporters point\u200b to the \u200bincreasing death toll in cities across the state\u2014with San Francisco tallying over 600 overdose deaths this\u2063 year \u200band nearly \u20646,000 fentanyl overdose deaths occurring annually statewide, according to\u2062 the latest \u200bstatistics from\u2064 the California Department\u2063 of Public Health\u2014as evidence that\u2062 more needs to be done to stop the\u200c flow of\u2062 synthetic opioids.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSociety and this Legislature \u2064need to send a message of intolerance to\u200c this massive misconduct,\u201d committee\u200c member Assemblyman Tom Lackey \u2064(R-Palmdale) said during the Assembly Public Safety Committee meeting in March.<\/p>\n<p>The new law will take effect Jan.\u2062 1.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> Why is fentanyl considered \u2062a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-know-about-the-cdc-warning-on-rare-tick-borne-allergy-to-meat\/\" title=\"CDC warns of rare meat allergy caused by ticks.\">significant public health concern<\/a> in the United States?<\/h2>\n<p><span> <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">10\/08\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[70px] sm:basis-[120px]\">\n<p>          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-seized-enough-fentanyl-in-2023-to-kill-states-population-over-68-times-5482885?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" https:><\/source><source type=\"image\/*\" https:><\/source><\/p>\n<\/picture>\n<p>          <\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Fentanyl,\u2062 a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tens-of-thousands-more-people-died-from-drug-overdose-in-2020-than-ever-before\/\" title=\"Tens Of Thousands More People Died From Drug Overdose In 2020 Than Ever Before\">powerful synthetic opioid<\/a>, has become\u2063 a\u2063 significant public health concern in the United States. The drug, which\u2063 is considered to be 50 times more potent than heroin \u200dand 100\u200b times\u200c more potent than morphine, has been responsible \u2063for a sharp\u200c increase \u2064in overdose deaths in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>In response \u200cto this crisis, California \u200dhas taken steps to strengthen penalties for possessing large \u2063amounts\u2062 of fentanyl.\u2063 Assembly Bill 701, authored by Assemblyman\u2064 Carlos Villapudua, aims to \u200bcombat the illegal distribution of fentanyl \u2062by \u200dadding\u2064 it \u200bto the \u2064list of controlled\u200c substances regulated by California law.<\/p>\n<p>The new law\u2064 specifically targets individuals convicted of possessing \u200bat least one kilogram of fentanyl, an amount that \u2062is \u200cequivalent to enough of the drug \u200dto\u200c kill 500,000 people. \u2063By including fentanyl in\u2064 the list of controlled substances, California aims to \u200dsend a clear message that the distribution of \u2062this deadly substance will not be tolerated.<\/p>\n<p>Assemblyman\u2063 Villapudua stated that AB 701 is an important \u2062step in addressing the fentanyl crisis. He believes\u2064 that illegal \u200bfentanyl distribution should be taken just as seriously as the distribution of \u2063heroin and cocaine, given\u200b its potency and the scale of harm it can\u2064 cause.<\/p>\n<p>The inclusion\u200b of fentanyl in California&#8217;s \u2062controlled substances list aligns with efforts at the federal level to combat the opioid \u2062crisis. The Drug \u200dEnforcement Administration has recognized fentanyl as \u200ba major threat and has worked to \u200dcontrol its availability and distribution.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Centers for Disease\u200b Control\u2063 and Prevention (CDC), \u200cthe number of overdose\u2063 deaths \u200binvolving synthetic\u200d opioids like fentanyl has skyrocketed \u2064in recent years. In 2020, over \u206269,000 people \u200bdied from drug overdoses in the United States, with synthetic opioids being the\u200d primary driver of this increase.<\/p>\n<p>By strengthening penalties for\u2062 fentanyl possession, California aims to deter individuals from engaging \u2063in the distribution of this dangerous drug. The new law sends \u2064a clear message that those who traffic large amounts of fentanyl \u2062will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/morning-wire-u-s-veterans-take-afghanistan-evacuation-into-their-own-hands-texas-house-passes-election-integrity-law-mississippi-threatens-new-covid-restrictions\/\" title=\"Morning Wire: U.S. Veterans Take Afghanistan Evacuation Into Their Own Hands, Texas House Passes Election Integrity Law, Mississippi Threatens New COVID Restrictions\">face severe consequences<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to this legislative measure, California \u2063has also taken steps to ensure access \u2063to fentanyl\u200d testing. Another recent law requires colleges in the state to stock\u2062 fentanyl \u200ctests,\u200d providing an additional tool to identify and prevent the \u200buse \u2063of this\u200d lethal substance on campuses.<\/p>\n<p>The fight against fentanyl \u2064abuse and overdoses is an ongoing battle, requiring collaborative efforts at all levels of government. With the strengthening of penalties for fentanyl possession,\u200c California aims to\u200b make it clear that this deadly drug will not be\u200c tolerated\u200d within its\u2064 borders.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The introduction of Assembly Bill 701 in \u200cCalifornia represents a \u2064significant step \u2062in addressing the fentanyl crisis\u200b and\u200d strengthening penalties\u2063 for those involved in its possession\u200b and distribution. The powerful synthetic \u2062opioid, which is 50 times more\u200b potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, has emerged as a \u2064major public \u200dhealth concern in the United States, leading to a surge in overdose deaths.<\/p>\n<p>Authored \u200dby \u200bAssemblyman\u200c Carlos Villapudua,\u2062 AB 701 adds fentanyl \u2064to \u2062the list of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-california-law-aims-to-reduce-illegal-drug-activity-on-social-media-posts\/\" title=\"California's new law targets illegal drug activity on social media.\">controlled substances regulated<\/a> by California \u2063law. The law specifically \u200dtargets individuals convicted\u2063 of possessing at least one kilogram of fentanyl, an amount capable of causing the death of \u200bhalf a million\u200b people. By including fentanyl in \u200cthe controlled\u200b substances list, California aims to crack down on the\u200d illegal distribution of this deadly drug.<\/p>\n<p>Assemblyman Villapudua emphasized the importance \u200dof taking illegal fentanyl\u2063 distribution as seriously as heroin and cocaine distribution, given \u200dits potency and the scale of harm it imposes. With \u2064fentanyl becoming a major threat \u200cto public\u200d health, it is crucial to\u2062 strengthen penalties<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While several fentanyl bills aiming to enhance penalties for distribution were rejected by lawmakers, one proposal reached Gov. Gavin Newsom&#8217;s desk. On October 8, he signed Assembly Bill 701 into law. This bill, introduced by Assemblyman Carlos Villapudua, toughens penalties for individuals found guilty of possessing a minimum amount of fentanyl.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1905,"featured_media":2071270,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2071269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2071269","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1905"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2071269"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2071269\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2071270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2071269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2071269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2071269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}