It's nice to see state politicians recognize the stakes of the current crisis and act accordingly:
Fentanyl overdoses have increasingly become a major concern, particularly among young adults, in Fairfax County and nationwide. To impose harsher penalties on the drug's manufacturing and distribution, SB 1188 and identical bill HB 1682 reclassify fentanyl as a "weapon of terrorism," making those acts Class 4 felonies that could carry up to 10 years of jail time.
And yes, fentanyl deaths are surging. Officials recorded a 26% jump in fentanyl deaths from 2020 to 2021.
The Virginia bill in question notes that a "weapon of terrorism" can be defined as anything meant to cause death or bodily harm "through the release, dissemination, or impact of (i) poisonous chemicals; (ii) an infectious biological substance; or (iii) release of radiation or radioactivity." I gotta say I think fentanyl checks those boxes.
Just to make sure it's clear, the legislators added the "terrorism" label to both fentanyl and "its isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers."
