Contact:
Krysta West
Communications Director
Senate Republican Office
(207) 287-1505
krysta.west@legislature.maine.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUGUSTA – State Senator Scott Cyrway (R-Kennebec) has introduced legislation to deter drug dealers by holding them accountable for the harm they inflict on our families and neighbors.

If passed, LD 42, “An Act To Deter the Dealing of Dangerous Drugs,” would allow prosecutors to hold drug dealers accountable for poisoning our communities by making it a Class A crime of manslaughter to traffic or furnish a drug that causes death when a person injects, inhales or ingests it.

“Over the past few years, the number of overdose deaths in Maine have skyrocketed, reaching over one death each day as the result of rampant illicit drug use,” said Sen. Cyrway. “Increasingly, dangerous drugs such as heroine are laced with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is far more potent than heroin. As a result, drug dealers often times don’t know the composition of the drugs they are pushing and addicts literally risk death each and every time they use.

“We need to do everything we can to get this poison off of our streets. That’s why I’m proposing a stiff penalty for dealers who provide these deadly drugs as a way to hopefully deter them.

“LD 42 would bring Maine in line with New Hampshire, which has begun charging drug dealers with a crime called “death resulting,” which carries a potential life sentence, in cases involving heroin and fentanyl overdoses. New Jersey and Wisconsin are also exploring similar reckless homicide provisions to get drug dealers off the streets.

LD 42 has been scheduled for a public hearing before the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Friday, March 31 at 9:00 a.m. in Room 436 of the State House.

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