DeSantis Increases Sentences for Fentanyl Dealers to Combat Border Drug Flow

May 19, 2022  Updated 4:10 P.M. ET

LAKELAND (FLV) –  Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Thursday (H.B. 95) that will crack down on the distribution of fentanyl and increase penalties for those dealing in Florida.

“If you are dealing fentanyl, you are killing people and you are going to be put in jail,” DeSantis said. 

DeSantis said the new law: 

• Makes the distribution of methamphetamine to be a felony murder.

• Enhances the penalties for selling controlled substances within 1,000 feet of substance abuse treatment centers.
• Increases the mandatory minimum sentence for trafficking fentanyl.

Fentanyl was the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 45 in 2021 according to DeSantis. Supporters said this legislation takes a “strong stand” against people selling fentanyl to Florida residents. 

Several law enforcement officials shared stories during the press conference of how fentanyl has killed Florida residents. Officials said they have found medications with fentanyl, like Oxycodone, that consumers are not aware are there.

Just two milligrams of fentanyl can be a fatal dose. 

“So if you have twelve hundred pounds of fentanyl like was seen at the border just last week, that’s enough to kill almost 90% of the United States population,” DeSantis said. 

DeSantis condemned the Biden Administration for the crisis at the border which he said is directly linked to the number of people dying from fentanyl.