The administration imposed tariffs on China to slow the trafficking of fentanyl precursors through Mexico.
The House of Representatives passed the HALT Fentanyl Act, designating fentanyl as a Schedule 1 drug. This means it has no accepted medical use and poses a high risk for abuse. The classification, originally imposed by President Trump’s administration temporarily in 2018, was set to expire on March 31.
The bill also addresses a legal loophole that allowed traffickers to slightly alter fentanyl’s chemical composition to evade restrictions. Supporters claim that the law will enhance the Drug Enforcement Administration’s ability to prevent fentanyl distribution, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the overdose deaths from synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, reached nearly 75,000 in 2023.
Representative Morgan Griffith of Virginia, who co-authored the bill, stated, “According to the DEA’s 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment, fentanyl remains the primary cause of the ongoing epidemic of drug poisoning deaths in the United States. HALT Fentanyl helps the DEA pursue traffickers of fentanyl-related substances and protect American communities.“
The bill now moves to the Senate, where a previous version stalled in 2023. The administration recently imposed a 10 percent tariff on China, where key fentanyl precursor chemicals are produced before being synthesized in Mexico and trafficked into the U.S.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Congressman Griffiths and members of the House as they seek to provide the DEA with stronger laws to prevent fentanyl trafficking.
- For members of the Senate as they consider the permanent classification of fentanyl as a Schedule 1 drug.
Sources: NY Post, MSN, Fox News
