STOP Fentanyl and Xylazine Act
This bill, the STOP Fentanyl and Xylazine Act, would amend the Controlled Substances Act to clarify that certain drug-testing equipment is not unlawful. Specifically, it adds a new safeguard to ensure that possessing, selling, buying, importing, exporting, or transporting equipment whose intended use is to detect the presence of fentanyl or xylazine in a substance is not illegal. The aim is to support overdose prevention and safer substance use by making it easier to obtain and use drug-checking tools without fear of criminal penalties. The measure does not change penalties for other drug offenses or broadly legalize all drug paraphernalia; it narrowly targets testing equipment used to identify fentanyl or xylazine. The bill is introduced in the House by Ms. Crockett (along with Mr. Gooden) in the 119th Congress and referred to the Judiciary and Energy and Commerce committees. It does not include new funding or broad regulatory changes beyond the specific exemption for testing equipment.
Key Points
- 1The bill adds a new subsection (g) to Section 422 of the Controlled Substances Act to create an exemption.
- 2The exemption applies to equipment whose intended use is to indicate the presence of fentanyl or xylazine in a compound.
- 3This means possession, sale, purchase, importation, exportation, or transportation of such equipment would not be unlawful.
- 4The exemption is narrowly tailored to testing equipment for fentanyl or xylazine and does not alter the status of other drug paraphernalia or offenses.
- 5The measure is titled the Safeguarding Testing and Overdose Prevention Against Fentanyl and Xylazine Act (STOP Fentanyl and Xylazine Act).