Florida Governor Rick Scott is continuing the state’s fight against Florida’s opioid problem by signing a new bill that will create stiffer penalties on drug dealers.
Tuesday, Scott hosted a ceremonial signing in West Palm Beach for the new bill – which will force judges to sentence people possessing four grams of fentanyl to three years of prison.
If the possession increases to 14 grams, they will be sentence to 15 years in prison and possession of 28 grams they will get a minimum of 25 years in prison.
These actions are being placed to criminalize traffickers of fentanyl and discourage the distribution of this drug, also allowing the state to charge dealers with murder if someone overdoses on an opioid.
"Right now, we are still figuring out the right thing to do. There will be something every year right now until we figure out how to solve this," Scott told NBC affiliate WPTV. "I hope while I'm governor, we're able to find the answer to this. I know this community has just been devastated by it.”
The increase of deaths has risen since last year alone, with more than 800 deaths have been reported for overdose of fentanyl. The synthetic drug is known to be 100 times more powerful than morphine.
The new law will take effect on October 1.
