Statement of Attorney General Phil Weiser on proposed state legislation to address the fentanyl crisis

March 23, 2022 (DENVER)—Attorney General Phil Weiser released the following statement on proposed state legislation to address the fentanyl crisis:

“Fentanyl continues to harm Colorado communities and families at alarming rates. I’m very grateful to the bill sponsors for their hard work and taking a major step forward to curb this rising threat.

“Fentanyl is the main driver of the spike in overdose deaths in our state. We recognize and appreciate that this bill is a much-needed stride forward to remove this deadly poison from our streets.

“By strengthening penalties for those who knowingly or intentionally deal fentanyl and fentanyl-laced substances that kill people, and offering needed funds for addiction treatment and appropriate harm reduction, this bill gives law enforcement valuable tools it needs to remove dangerous fentanyl and high-level drug dealers from our communities. And rather than criminalizing those struggling with addiction, it provides support and resources for those who need help.

“The latest version of the bill draft is a major step forward to address the fentanyl crisis, and I urge the legislature to act on this opportunity and to build on it. As I’ve stated before, the legislature must take a hard look at the penalties for those who possess enough pure fentanyl to kill hundreds or thousands of people. I also urge the legislature to provide more resources to police and sheriffs conducting investigations focused on disrupting fentanyl trafficking. I stand ready to work with the legislature to do just that.”