HALT Fentanyl Act

This law permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I controlled substances, making them subject to the highest level of regulatory controls and criminal penalties. It aligns the quantity thresholds and mandatory minimum prison terms for these substances with those established for fentanyl analogues. Additionally, the act streamlines the registration process for researchers studying Schedule I substances and clarifies that certain chemicals can be treated as fentanyl analogues for prosecution purposes.

This act affects individuals involved in the trafficking or possession of fentanyl-related substances, who are now subject to schedule I regulatory controls and criminal penalties, including mandatory minimum prison terms. It also impacts researchers and research institutions, who may utilize a new alternative registration process and streamlined requirements for conducting studies on schedule I controlled substances. Additionally, the act affects the Drug Enforcement Administration and related regulatory bodies responsible for overseeing the registration of research sites and manufacturing activities involving small quantities of these substances.

• Permanent Schedule I Classification of Fentanyl-Related Substances. The act permanently categorizes fentanyl-related substances as a class into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, identifying them as having a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.
• Standardization of Penalties and Quantity Thresholds. Offenses involving fentanyl-related substances are assigned the same quantity thresholds and criminal penalties as fentanyl analogues, such as a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence for offenses involving 100 grams or more.
• Streamlined Registration for Schedule I Research. The act creates an alternative registration process for certain schedule I research and allows for a single registration to cover multiple related research sites under specific conditions.
• Flexibility for Research-Related Manufacturing. Registered researchers are permitted to perform limited manufacturing activities with small quantities of a substance without being required to obtain a separate manufacturing registration.
• Clarification of Controlled Substance Analogues. The act expresses congressional support for a judicial interpretation that allows certain controlled substances, such as butyryl fentanyl, to be treated as fentanyl analogues for enforcement purposes.

• S. 331, HALT Fentanyl Act
  Mar 10, 2025 · As reported by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on March 3, 2025

This act permanently amends the Controlled Substances Act to place fentanyl-related substances into schedule I and aligns their quantity thresholds and penalties with those of fentanyl analogues. It also modifies existing registration and inspection requirements for researchers and expresses congressional agreement with the judicial interpretation of controlled substance analogues established in United States v. McCray.

The act aims to curb the trafficking of fentanyl-related substances by permanently classifying them as Schedule I controlled substances, thereby applying strict regulatory controls and criminal penalties. It also seeks to streamline the registration process for researchers conducting studies on Schedule I substances.