Los Angeles, CA (January 21, 2023) - On this week’s “In Focus SoCal,” host Tanya McRae looks at new legislation that has gone into effect in California to address some important issues. Rising cases, the urgent need for intervention, and new legislation highlight the severity of the problem as the fentanyl crisis takes a toll on communities and families.
McRae spoke with Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, who co-authored two new bills related to the fentanyl crisis. One of them is AB 701, which will complement state efforts to provide addiction treatment and rehabilitation to people who desperately need help. It also establishes harsher consequences for fentanyl dealers in California.
“Before this bill, and it’s hard to believe, but fentanyl was not treated with the same severity as other drug sales like cocaine or heroin which really doesn’t make a ton of sense when we’re dealing with something that is as deadly and dangerous,” said Petrie-Norris. “What AB 701 will do is apply additional enhancements for sales that are over a kilogram. And what we really want to do with this bill is target the high-level dealers, and the high level traffickers. And we want to send a message that they are not going to be able to kill our kids with impunity. There are consequences, and we need to make sure that the consequences fit the crime.”