The penalty for trafficking fentanyl just got more serious in Georgia after Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation that seeks to suppress illicit sales of the dangerous drug.
When used in a medical setting with proper dosing, the painkiller can help patients experiencing discomfort. But it is 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and it can be lethal on the street, where it can be found laced with other drugs such as Adderall, Oxycodone, and Xanax.
According to the DEA, just two milligrams can kill, depending on body size, tolerance, and past usage. The Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act imposes a range of mandatory minimum sentences on convicted traffickers in fentanyl. Four grams to 14 grams—the smallest amounts covered by the legislation, Senate Bill 79—will result in at least five years behind bars.
