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Assemblymember Janet Nguyen presented her bill AB 1955 to the Assembly Public Safety Committee. AB 1955 would increase penalties on a person possessing fentanyl for sale or purchasing fentanyl with the intent to sell.
“Fentanyl-related deaths have increased over 1600 percent in the last four years to approximately 3857 in 2020. This is unacceptable,” said Assemblymember Janet Nguyen. The majority of these deaths have been related to the sale of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.”
Currently the penalties are higher for possessing drugs for sale such as heroin or cocaine, than they are for possessing fentanyl. “Far too often drug dealers are adding fentanyl to their counterfeit pills and passing them off to unsuspecting buyers,” said Assemblymember Janet Nguyen. “Too many people are falling victim to this dangerous drug and it’s time that we hold drug dealers accountable with tougher penalties.”
Unfortunately, AB 1955 failed passage in the Assembly Public Safety Committee today by a vote of 2-4.
“I’m saddened and very disappointed to see that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle don’t want to hold these drug dealers accountable for preying on our youths” said Assemblymember Janet Nguyen. “Even though this bill has failed, I will continue to push for tougher laws to fight the fentanyl crisis in California. We must do everything we can to save more people from falling victim to this dangerous drug.”
