Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous drug. That’s why Texas takes drug crimes involving it seriously.
In July 2021, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 768 into law. This bill enhances the penalties for distributing and manufacturing fentanyl in Texas. Manufacturing or delivering as little as four grams of fentanyl is enough to lead to a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, but the maximum is life in prison.
The minimum sentence in this bill increases for charges including 200 grams to 400 grams and 400 grams or more. For 200 to 400 grams of fentanyl, the minimum sentence is at least 15 years. For 400 or more grams, the minimum sentence is 20 years.
Since just .25 milligrams can be enough fentanyl to be fatal, most people shouldn’t have anywhere near this much in their possession. Those with fentanyl patches for pain may have multiple patches, but those should never be sold or given away to others.
Why is Texas taking a harsher stance on Fentanyl compared to other drugs?
Fentanyl is responsible for a large number of overdoses. In 2020, There were over 93,000 overdoses linked to fentanyl alone. The Texas Department of Public Safety also reported that by July 21, 2021, it had collected enough fentanyl from the streets to kill every person in California and Texas.
Fentanyl abuse can lead to harsh charges and penalties
If you’re caught with fentanyl, you should know that you may face harsh penalties. You could be accused of transporting or distributing the drug, which could lead to serious repercussions.
If you have less than four grams of fentanyl in your possession when you’re arrested, you can still face penalties. The harshest penalties are reserved for those with between four and 400 grams of fentanyl, since that signifies that they may be involved in the illicit drug trade.
No matter what your circumstances are, you need to take steps to protect yourself if you’re accused of possession or distributing fentanyl. This is one drug that you do not want to get caught with, but if you are, you need a strong defense.