House Passes Bill Making Fentanyl-Related Substances Permanently Illegal Despite Concerns

The House passed a bill classifying all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule 1 drugs with up to 289 votes.
The White House and most Republicans support the bill arguing it will curb the overdose crisis, while most Democrats opposed it citing disproportionate effects on minorities and lack of health-based solutions.
The bill makes permanent the temporary ban on fentanyl-like substances set to expire in 2024 in response to over 75,000 overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids last year.
Supporters say the bill closes loopholes in existing law, while critics argue it repeats failed war on drugs policies that led to mass incarceration.
The bill exposes divisions in tackling the opioid epidemic with some favoring public health approaches and others strict law enforcement.