Last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed HB 95, which cracks down on the penalties for the sale and distribution of opioids in Florida, which includes fentanyl. The signing comes as DeSantis has worked with the Florida Legislature to pass numerous pieces of legislation aimed at fighting the influx of illegal immigrants and oftentimes illegal drug traffickers into Florida.
In the announcement, DeSantis swiped at the President Joe Biden (D) administration for its lack of action regarding the influx of illegal immigrants on the southern border.
“Floridians of all walks of life have witnessed the destruction caused by the opioid epidemic across our state,” said DeSantis. “While the Biden administration has failed to stop the flow of dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, across our southern border, we are taking action in Florida to lower both the demand and the supply of illicit and illegal drugs.”
The new state law implements recommendations made from the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse created by DeSantis in 2019. The law will add “methamphetamine to the list of specified controlled substances which, if the substance causes the death of a person, can subject the person who distributed the controlled substance to a conviction for first-degree felony murder.”
Additionally, it ups the penalties for selling controlled substances within 1,000 feet of substance abuse treatment facilities and increases minimum sentencing for trafficking fentanyl from three to seven years for low levels of fentanyl possession, and as many as 20 years for up to 28 grams of fentanyl.
“Yes, someone dealing fentanyl is murdering people, and they’re going to prison in the state of Florida. And that is appropriate,” DeSantis said. “But we’re also doing things like the first lady (Casey DeSantis) is doing, the outreach to the young kids.”
Incoming House Speaker Paul Renner (R-Palm Harbor), echoed similar sentiments, saying, “If you come and sell fentanyl to our citizens, you will spend the best years of your life here in Florida in prison.”
On Twitter, DeSantis touted the bill signing as part of the effort to “combat the flow of fentanyl from the open southern border.”
Last month, DeSantis directed comments to illegal immigrants who are desiring to come to Florida that they “will not be welcome.”
“To those who have entered the country illegally, fair warning: do not come to Florida,” DeSantis said. “Life will not be easy for you, because we are obligated to uphold the immigration laws of this country, even if our federal government and other states won’t.”
Florida has also sued the Biden administration for reinstating an Obama-era policy permitting illegal aliens to enter and stay in the United States, sidestepping laws passed by Congress. The Florida Legislature has, additionally, set aside $12 million to bus illegal aliens out of Florida.
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at The Florida Capital Star and The Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
Photo “Ron DeSantis” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0. Background Photo “Fentanyl Factory” by r. nial bradshaw. CC BY 2.0.
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