The Alaska House passed a bill yesterday that would increase penalties for people who distribute fentanyl, other opioids and methamphetamine.
Rep. Mike Cronk, R-Tok, speaks in favor of a bill that would increase the penalties for certain drug offenses.
The legislation comes as overdose deaths related to fentanyl — a powerful synthetic opioid — surge in Alaska., 145 people died of fentanyl overdoses in 2021. That’s a more than 400% increase in four years. “If individuals come in to our state and want to distribute a substance as deadly as fentanyl and somebody dies, prison is where they deserve to be,” he said.
Some legislators argued the bill was too broad, since the penalties for distribution would also apply to drugs other than fentanyl, such as oxycodone, which is more common. Rep. Jennifer Armstrong, D-Anchorage, said there’s no evidence that stricter jail sentences reduce overdoses.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Alaska House debates bill imposing harsher penalties for opioid-related crimes amid spike in fentanyl deathsConservative Republicans were typically in favor of long sentences for a broader range of opioids; moderate Republicans, independents and Democrats were more likely to want the harsher penalties tailored specifically to fentanyl, and to devote more resources to treatment and rehabilitation.
Leer más »
Alaska oil industry launches campaign against proposed tax increaseAlaska’s oil and gas trade association has launched a campaign against a Senate bill that would increase taxes on the industry as a way to help fill the state’s structural deficit.
Leer más »
Photos: Bering Sea island village celebrates Russian Orthodox holiday with Alaska bishopBishop Alexei of Alaska and other Russian Orthodox dignitaries from around the state visited the Bering Sea island of St. George for five days in early May for St. George Day, celebrated May 6 around the world in the Russian Orthodox tradition.
Leer más »
2 tribal councils announce decision to withdraw from AFNTwo separate Alaska tribal councils announced Monday they will not be renewing their membership with the Alaska Federation of Natives.
Leer más »
Legislature narrowly votes down Dunleavy's University of Alaska Board of Regents nomineeSen. Löki Tobin was among those opposed to Bethany Marcum's nomination to the UA Board of Regents. “Ms. Marcum has shown that she cannot uphold the public trust,” Tobin said.
Leer más »
Teams searching for 2 missing climbers in Alaska find 'boot tracks leading' to avalancheRangers are searching for 34-year-old Eli Michel and Nafiun Awal, 32, who officials believe likely fell while climbing Moose's Tooth, a 10,300-foot mountain in Denali National Park and Preserve, on Friday, May 5.
Leer más »