Denver, CO: Amidst rising concerns over fentanyl-related deaths, Colorado has reassessed its approach to handling fentanyl possession. The new legislation, signed by Governor Polis, reflects a nuanced approach to the growing crisis, balancing between penalizing illicit drug use and supporting victims of addiction.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 100 times more potent than morphine, has become a central figure in drug overdose deaths. In Colorado alone, over 900 people succumbed to fentanyl overdoses last year, including a worrying number of children and teenagers. Previously considered a drug primarily used for pain management in cancer patients, fentanyl has increasingly been found mixed with street drugs, often unbeknownst to users.
The recent legislative changes stem from House Bill 1326, a response to the 2019 law which categorized possessing up to 4 grams of most drugs, including fentanyl, as a misdemeanor. Critics argued that this law contributed to the surge in fentanyl-related deaths, a claim contested by harm reduction advocates.