Missouri House passes stricter criminal penalties for people who traffic fentanyl

The Missouri House this week passed a bill that would create stiffer penalties for people who traffic fentanyl as overdoses and deaths ravage across the country.

The bill, filed by Rep. David Casteel, a High Ridge Republican, would increase the severity of felony charges based on the amount of fentanyl involved. For example, a person who trafficked more than 14 milligrams of fentanyl could face ten to thirty years or life in prison — a Class A felony, the most severe felony classification in Missouri.

Under current law, a person would face a Class A felony if they trafficked 20 milligrams or more.

Casteel, in a statement on Tuesday, touted his bill as a way to combat the nation’s opioid crisis.

“We are sending a clear message that Missouri is committed to protecting our citizens and holding accountable those who seek to profit from the devastation of addiction,” he said.

The Missouri House passed the bill on a vote of 108 to 25 on Monday, with 21 Democrats voting “present.” While supporters of the legislation argue it could help curb fentanyl deaths, opponents say that stiffer criminal penalties could make the opioid crisis worse.

Rep. Deb Lavender, a Manchester Democrat, said Monday that lawmakers should be advocating for drug treatment — not stronger criminal penalties.

“We are not advocating treatment. We’re not advocating prevention or diversion,” said Lavender, who voted against the bill. “We’re advocating keeping people locked up for longer.”

Critics, including some health professionals, have remained skeptical that adding more criminal charges would help stem the rise in fentanyl-related deaths and overdoses. Some have pointed to the nation’s history of criminalizing users of drugs such as “crack” cocaine which disproportionately affected marginalized communities.

The drug — 50 times more potent than heroin, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration — has ravaged across the country, killing more than 850 people in the Kansas City region since 2018.

The Star has investigated the toll fentanyl has taken on the Kansas City-area since 2018. The series has detailed the trail of destruction this crisis has left behind and many families have said they feel police have denied them justice.

Casteel, in his statement on Tuesday, said the opioid crisis was “clearly an epidemic that we need to address.”

“We’ve seen an alarming surge in fatalities associated with these substances, especially among our younger population,” he said.