Senators Want To Declare Fentanyl a National Security Threat – By Elizabeth Nolan Brown (Reason) / May 31, 2023
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The spread of the synthetic opioid fentanyl—and associated overdose deaths—has become an endless font of bad policy ideas from government drug warriors. The latest ill-conceived responses come from Sens. Tim Kaine (D–Va.) and Joni Ernst (R–Iowa), who want to declare fentanyl a national security threat.
Kaine and Ernst are angling to add their Disrupt Fentanyl Trafficking Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2024, reports The Hill:
“Our goal is — I suspect, when we mark that bill up, which is probably around the 17th or 18th in committee, Joni and I will offer it as an amendment,” Kaine said. “We think that we have a real good chance of getting it added.” …
The senators’ idea is to make fentanyl trafficking a priority for the Pentagon by classifying it as a national security threat to the United States.
The legislation would also encourage the Defense Department to use dollars on training and information sharing to support counter-fentanyl efforts.
In addition, it would mandate the Pentagon work with other federal agencies and Mexican defense officials on a strategy to counter drug trafficking, a rule that means Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would work more closely with Mexico’s military.”
CONTINUE > https://reason.com/2023/05/31/senators-want-to-declare-fentanyl-a-national-security-threat/
