|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Dave Soulia, for FYIVT.com
The HALT Fentanyl Act, which recently passed the Senate with bipartisan support, is designed to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances (FRS) as Schedule I drugs and impose strict penalties on traffickers. The bill aims to give law enforcement stronger tools to combat the deadly opioid crisis, which has devastated communities across the country, including Vermont. Despite Vermont’s ongoing fentanyl epidemic, Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) voted against the legislation, raising questions about his priorities in addressing the crisis.
What the HALT Fentanyl Act Does
The legislation includes these key provisions:
Permanent Schedule I Classification:
- All fentanyl-related substances (FRS) are permanently classified as Schedule I drugs, meaning they are recognized as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse under federal law.
- This ensures law enforcement can take swift action against traffickers and prevents legal loopholes that allow new fentanyl analogs to flood the market.
Stronger Penalties for Traffickers:
- Mandatory minimum of 5 years for possession of 10 grams or more of fentanyl.
- Mandatory minimum of 10 years for 100 grams or more.
- No mandatory minimum for amounts under 10 grams, ensuring that smaller possession cases remain at judicial discretion.
- These thresholds specifically target large-scale traffickers, not individual users.
Expanded Research Opportunities:
- The bill explicitly allows scientific research on fentanyl-related substances, ensuring that any potential medical uses can still be explored.
- Streamlined registration for researchers, making it easier for scientists to study fentanyl analogs.
- Allows manufacturing of small quantities for research purposes without additional regulatory hurdles.
- If a fentanyl-related substance is found to have medical benefits, existing DEA and FDA processes allow for reclassification—contrary to claims that the bill permanently locks all FRS into Schedule I.
Balancing Law Enforcement and Science:
- While cracking down on traffickers, the bill ensures legitimate scientific research is protected, addressing concerns that it might stifle future medical discoveries.
- The bill does not impose new penalties on personal use or addiction cases—its focus remains on those distributing fentanyl at lethal scales.
Importantly, the bill is targeted at large-scale traffickers, not individual drug users or those struggling with addiction.
Welch’s Opposition and His Justifications
Senator Welch, along with 15 other Senate Democrats, opposed the bill, arguing that it prioritizes law enforcement over public health solutions. His main concerns include:
- Opposition to mandatory minimums, which he believes could contribute to over-incarceration.
- Lack of addiction treatment provisions, as the bill does not include new funding for rehabilitation or harm reduction efforts.
- Preference for a “public health approach”, suggesting that treatment and prevention efforts should take precedence over criminal penalties.
However, this bill does not criminalize drug users—it focuses on traffickers moving large quantities of fentanyl, which is responsible for the majority of overdose deaths. Welch’s opposition seems to mischaracterize the bill, conflating penalties for traffickers with punishment for addicts.
The Reality of Fentanyl’s Impact on Vermont
Vermont has been one of the hardest-hit states in the opioid crisis. Hundreds of Vermonters have died from fentanyl overdoses in recent years, despite extensive state efforts to combat the crisis.
- Overdose deaths in Vermont:
- 218 opioid-related deaths in 2021, with fentanyl involved in 87% of cases.
- 244 overdose deaths in 2022, setting a record high.
- 231 overdose deaths in 2023, showing the crisis remains severe.
- State-funded Narcan distribution programs, including vending machines and free home delivery, aim to prevent fatal overdoses.
- Vermont has launched public awareness campaigns, including a television advertisement promoting Narcan use, likely backed by the state government.
The state is actively fighting fentanyl deaths, yet Welch voted against a bill designed to stop the source of the problem—traffickers distributing deadly amounts of fentanyl.
Fentanyl vs. Cyanide: Understanding the Danger
To put the severity of fentanyl trafficking into perspective:
- A lethal dose of fentanyl is around 2 milligrams.
- 10 grams of fentanyl—the threshold for the bill’s harsher penalties—contains 5,000 lethal doses.
- By comparison, cyanide’s lethal dose is 200-300 mg, making fentanyl far more lethal by weight.
If someone were caught carrying 10 grams of cyanide, they would be treated as a serious public safety threat. Welch’s opposition to penalizing fentanyl traffickers carrying enough to kill thousands is difficult to justify, especially given the scale of Vermont’s opioid crisis.
Final Thoughts
Vermont has invested heavily in harm reduction strategies like Narcan distribution and public awareness campaigns, yet fentanyl remains the leading cause of overdose deaths in the state. While Welch argues that this bill does not address addiction treatment, that is a separate issue from stopping traffickers from flooding communities with fentanyl.
Welch’s no vote puts him at odds with Vermont’s ongoing efforts to combat fentanyl deaths. By opposing a bill specifically designed to target large-scale dealers, Welch raises legitimate concerns about whether his priorities align with effectively addressing the fentanyl epidemic.
The bill has been sent to President Trump for his consideration. The Office of Management and Budget has indicated that, if presented in its current form, the President will sign it into law. This means the HALT Fentanyl Act is likely to be enacted soon, making Welch’s opposition even more notable as Vermont continues to struggle with the impact of fentanyl.
Discover more from Vermont Daily Chronicle
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: Congress, National News, News Analysis
Follow the money trail. Many people are making a lot of money in the drug repair business and also big pharmacy and their stock holders are laughing all the way to the bank. Investigate the stock holdings of your wonderful house and senate members.
It is a surprise to exactly ZERO readers here that Welch (the name does fit) is, was, and always will be an absolute useless tit. When him and Biden used to run to Ben Franklin’s workshop after school, they would argue who was the bigger boob.
350 years later, it’s still not been determined.
Welch, the horse’s a _ _ of Vermont once again doesn’t disappoint ! You want truth follow the money. Time to investigate where some of our Senators money comes from. A law that heavily penalize Fentanyl drug trafficer’s with our over penalizing drug users, but Welch isn’t interested in putting the big money behind bars ; despite the fact they are the one’s killing thousands of Americans. Just Saying !
If 10 grams can cause 5000 lethal overdoses, why set the minimum amount so high? I would agree that someone is collecting some serious chump change by protecting drug dealers. Could Welch be trying to protect his life from a drug lord’s threats by influencing votes in favor of drug distribution?
Fentanyl does have a medical use (unless sedation isn’t considered medical).
My son died of fentanyl poisoning in 2020. It’s the perfect drug to use to implement the death sentence for convicted drug dealers who have sold it to people that died from that sale.
Re: Fentanyl does have a medical use (unless sedation isn’t considered medical).
Correct. Fentanyl is a thoughtless chemical compound. It has neither a political agenda nor profit motive… as do the people who refuse to take the necessary steps to prevent Fentanyl abuse.
Indeed, as Mr. Day points out above, it’s the drug repair businesses, big pharma, and their shareholders who are to blame. Sen. Peter Welch and other progressive apologists are but paid enablers for the cartel.
What use does fentanyl have on the street or in the hands of criminal drug traffickers? Or, maybe are you a Welch supporter and you are okay with 100,000 OD deaths per year from fentanyl? Made in China and trafficked through Mexican drug cartels doesn’t seem to bother Mr. Welch. Nor does removing criminal gang members from America. None of this doesn’t seem to bather Vermont liberals either. You can’t fix stupid!
Exactly! I was working as a surgical nurse when the Anesthesiologists first started using it. I still remember some of the initial challenges due to significant patient reactions, and that was with medical supervision. Thankfully, at least some folks in DC understand, but Welch is not one of them.
Springfield Mass’ finest.
We should never have built the highway.
Right. My mother used to say that “they should have built a moat around Vt. a long time ago”. as usual, she was so right about one more issue. RIP Mom.
When I was a kid I remember one of my father’s brothers say that I 91would be the ruination of the State of Vermont . I should have asked him to pick six numbers between one and fifty for me.
Let’s see, Representative Welch has net between assets between 4.9 and 13.6 million dollars. Not bad for a $174,000 salary. I don’t know, something doesn’t seem right here. Either the man doesn’t care about people or something else is going on. Seems to be the case with most Vermont representatives of and for the people, both near and far.
Welch is a smug, wealthy liberal who doesn’t have to worry about mixing with the real world. He and Sanders are two of the 3 stooges the Vermont voters support. Both are 83 years old and both think highly of themselves. Both got wealthy by being in congress and the only way they will leave is by the Grim Reaper like all liberal politicians in DC. Pelosi 84, Rosa Dalora 83, Maxine Waters 86 and many more, DC is the liberal geriatric home for delusional, out of touch, career politicians. The republicans have them also. For $174,000.00 per year, they work 3 days a week on the nations business and 4 days a week chasing avenues available to them to gain millions through money laundering to NGOs and insider stock trading. They all have relatives in key government or connected businesses from which they amass their wealth and the people are too ignorant to throw them out.
Maybe his wife wrote a book, like Boinie’s ?
Remember , Welch made his fortune as an ambulance chaser while early in his political career…
Keep in mind that Peter Welch’s wife, Margaret Cheney, is one of Vermont’s PUC commissioners, who earns as much as he does while she regulates businesses that contribute to his political campaign.
No! I’m not making this up.
VT-GOP, please dust off this article and keep a record of his other anti-American votes when he’s up for re-election in 2028. Thank you
Yes, where is the Vt-GOP in compiling this and other info. to compile cases against the 3 out of touch legislators representing Vermont in D.C., for when they are up for reelection?
I wrote him a letter concerning a healthcare bill that was going to affect nurses negatively several years ago. I asked him to not vote in favor of it and my reasoning for the request. Several months later I received a reply that stated he would vote however he wanted to and not how his constituents wanted him to. Says everything in that statement. I never voted for him and never will. Any time I have written to Sanders I have gotten the same canned letter as an answer. None of the gang of three have done anything for Vermonters, but man, they certainly have made money off ill gotten gains!!
Welch, the second in comand for Vermont’s DC stooges, why would this surprise anyone, Welch is only a puppet for the DNC.
We deserve better
I’m thinking Welch left out one more item, TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME .
Overcrowding in Vermont prisons is a non-issue because Vermont’s legislators and numerous prosecutors and judges simply do not have the moral will to send them there.
Rather than jump on the Democratic Ignorance Bandwagon, I suggest Welch go to every funeral, especially of youngsters, who died from fentanyl…he would change his tune in a hurry, if indeed he has a working conscience.
The welcher welched on his sworn promise to the Vermont population to serve and protect the citizens.
He is more concerned with the power of incumbency, paid for by the taxpayer, so he can remain in office for life, just like the house of lords, in the UK, and is why the American people went to war twice, to oust tyrants, like the welcher, and is so disrespectful to our way of governance, that when the Commander in Chief, like him or not ,speaks ,the welcher fakes sleep, during his address to the legislators, on Capital Hill, in complete distain to the majority of Americans. that elected the President!
Well…I say manure on you ,you pompous POS.
Throw the bum out, next election, and any who team with, or work for, his likes.
He is an embarrassment, not only to our state, but also to our country, and when he is asleep at the wheel… I promise you, as an old and seasoned security hand, our adversaries notice…to the determent of our nation.
VOTE HIM OUT!