In 2019, the Democrat-controlled Colorado legislature passed HB 1263, ultimately decriminalizing fentanyl. Since then, fentanyl deaths in Colorado have skyrocketed. Teenagers are being targeted by drug dealers with illicit fentanyl that kills almost immediately.
The recent deaths in Commerce City have brought to light the continued result of the Democrats’ soft on crime policies that are plaguing our state. To solve this crime tsunami, Republican Representative Mike Lynch has been working on a bill with District Attorneys that would increase the penalties for the manufacture and distribution of fentanyl. However, with one-party controlling Colorado state government, no solution can move forward unless Democrats acquiesce to having the conversation Republican legislators have been asking to have for months.
Statement from Colorado GOP Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown: “With Democrats in charge of Colorado, teens will unfortunately continue to be targeted by drug dealers, and families all across our state will continue to suffer the violent and sudden loss of their loved ones. Our families can’t be safe until Democrats act and fix their terrible mistake. Sadly, Democrats legislators seem to be more focused on banning plastic forks than banning deadly fentanyl.
Despite the sudden and violent deaths that continue to rock Colorado, the Democrats – who are in complete control of the state government – are doing nothing of substance to solve the problem they created in 2019.
It’s time for Colorado Democrats to get serious about re-criminalizing fentanyl.
Axios released an article this week highlighting the fact that fentanyl related deaths have jumped significantly since the Democrat Assembly and Gov. Polis signed legislation in 2019 that decriminalized fentanyl.
Jared Polis, who continues to flip-flop on the decisions he made the first three years of his governorship recently told 9News that he “believes the General Assembly needs to act…to address the dangers of fentanyl.” Sadly, he has done nothing to actually make that happen. Perhaps he’s worried about reversing his own dangerous policies in an election year?