South Dakota Becomes the Latest State to Legalize Fentanyl Test Strips

Jeffrey A. SingerLast month I reported on state lawmakers ’ growing appreciation for fentanyl test strips as a valuable harm reduction tool to help nonmedical drug users learn if what they are about to consume contains fentanyl. Unfortunately, as Sophia Heimowitz and I explained in a June 2022policy analysis, every state but Alaska prohibits the possession, sale, use, or distribution of drug paraphernalia. And most states consider fentanyl test strips, a product used to test illicit substances, as forbidden drug paraphernalia.In January,Ohio took fentanyl test strips off its illegal drug paraphernalia list. Today we learn thatSouth Dakota Governor Kristi Noem signed into law a bill legalizing fentanyl test strips. Similar bills are moving throughHawaii,Kansas,New Hampshire, andMontana legislatures. Last December, Texas Governor Greg Abbottreversed his opposition and endorsed legalizing fentanyl test strips. A bill is making its way through the legislature in Austin. Hopefully, the states where fentanyl test strips remain illegal will jump on the bandwagon soon.Most of the bills legalize strips for testing fentanyl andother illicit drugs. This is good because the Canadian company that makes fentanyl test strips also makesxylazine test strips.The veterinary tranquilizer xylazine —nicknamed “tranq” by nonmedical drug users—is being increasingly added to fentanyl and other black market drugs to enhance the potency of those drugs (their...

Source: Cato-at-liberty - February 24, 2023 Category: American Health Authors: Jeffrey A. Singer Source Type: blogs