A.G. Gancarski
With the opioid epidemic unceasing in the Sunshine State, a bill in the Florida Senate would tighten penalties against trafficking in fentanyl and synthetic drugs.
Senate Bill 150, introduced by GOP Sen. Greg Steube from Sarasota, would also impose penalties related to selling, manufacturing, or delivering fentanyl and synthetic drugs “performed within a dwelling.”
This would be a felony charge, with a mandatory minimum of three years in prison.
Those who possess and deal fentanyl and similar synthetic drugs that lead to death in a user will be guilty of a felony in the third degree.
Fentanyl “trafficking” is broadly defined in this legislation, ranging from amounts from four grams to 30 kilograms.
While all infractions would be classified as felonies in the first degree, there is a sliding scale of infraction.
Someone trafficking in 4 to 14 grams would incur a $50,000 fine and a mandatory minimum term of three years in prison.
Those with anywhere from 28 grams to 30 kilograms of fentanyl would incur a $500,000 fine and a mandatory minimum prison term of 15 years.
Those who have brought over 30 kilograms of fentanyl will be subject to life in prison.
Synthetic drugs receive a similar graduated structure of penalties, with those traffickers with between 250 and 500 grams getting the mandatory minimum of three years and a $25,000 fine, and those with 30 or more kilograms getting 25 years and a $750,000 fine.
