NEGATIVE Justice & Civil Liberties 119th Congress

S.331 HALT Fentanyl Act

HALT Fentanyl Act — permanently schedules fentanyl analogues and imposes mandatory minimum prison sentences, which disproportionately impact communities of color (119th Congress)

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Legal & Constitutional Grounding

USSC finds mandatory minimums increase incarceration without deterring drug supply; public health approaches show documented effectiveness.

CDC NCHS: 105,007 drug overdose deaths in 2023; fentanyl involved in majority

21 U.S.C. § 812 — Controlled Substances Act scheduling
USSC (2023): mandatory minimums increase incarceration without documented deterrent effect on drug supply

HALT Fentanyl Act — permanently classifies fentanyl analogues as Schedule I. Blanket scheduling without scientific review contradicts evidence-based drug policy and increases incarceration rather than reducing overdose deaths.