With the support of more than 70 Democrats, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed legislation that would permanently classify fentanyl analogs as Schedule I drugs and impose mandatory-minimum prison sentences on people found guilty of distributing the substances, an approach some critics are calling a return to failed drug war strategies.
“Despite the Biden Administration campaigning on a policy of ending Mandatory Minimums, the HALT Act does the opposite," Matt Sutton, director of public relation of Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) told Benzinga. "This bill will not only be incredibly detrimental to criminal justice reform efforts, but it will also exacerbate the overdose crisis and do nothing to further the public health solutions we urgently need.”
Laura Pitter of Human Rights …