Columbia, SC (Tega Cay Sun) – On Tuesday, Governor Henry McMaster held a ceremonial bill signing. The ceremony for House bill H. 3503, Fentanyl Trafficking, took place at 10:00 am at the SLED Forensic Services Laboratory.
People convicted of trafficking fentanyl could face a minimum sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years, depending on the amount of fentanyl they had and whether they had a previous trafficking conviction on their criminal record.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. It is often used in hospitals to treat severe pain, but it can also be deadly if it is not used properly.
In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of fake prescription drugs that are made with fentanyl. These drugs are often sold online or on the streets, and they can look just like legitimate prescription pills.
This makes them extremely dangerous, as even a small dose of fentanyl can be fatal. In fact, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has warned that six out of ten fake prescription pills now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
During the event, Governor McMaster was joined by Lieutenant Governor Pamela S. Evette, state and local law enforcement, state solicitors, and members of the General Assembly.
