Senate passes HALT Fentanyl Act

The Senate passed its version of the HALT Fentanyl Act (S 331), which aims to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, imposing stricter regulatory and enforcement measures. Notably, the bill does not affect medical-grade fentanyl, which will remain a Schedule II drug. This legislation is part of ongoing efforts to combat the rise in overdose deaths caused by illicit fentanyl. A temporary DEA order that classified these substances as Schedule I in 2018 is set to expire this month. The House passed a similar version of the bill last month. They are expected to take up and pass the Senate version before sending the bill to President Trump for his signature.