Sen.: ‘Dealers Deserve No Leniency’
State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky announced that the State Senate has passed legislation to combat the increase in drug use by young children and increase penalties for those who prey on youth.
The bill (S.3201B) will establish a more serious offense for the sale of a controlled substance to minors under the age of 14 by making it a class A-II felony.
“We must take special care to defend young children, who are among our most vulnerable citizens,” said Stavisky. “Drug dealers who target children deserve no leniency, and I am glad that the State Senate agrees.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 22.6 million Americans aged 12 or older are currently drug users, meaning they had used a drug during the month prior to the survey interview. This estimate represents 8.9 percent of the population aged 12 or older.
The drugs include marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or prescription-type psychotherapeutics used recreationally.
Under the new law, the sale of a controlled substance by an adult to a minor under the age of 14 will be a class A-II felony. It provides law enforcement with another tool in the battle to protect our children from negative influences by punishing those who profit from selling drugs to our children.
“Children as young as 12 years old are experimenting with addicting drugs. We need to recognize the problem, educate our youth, and enforce harsher punishments to protect our young people from going down the dark road to drug addiction,” Stavisky added. “The passage of this bill is an important step in that effort.”
