Alabama House OKs steeper penalties

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama House of Representatives has voted to stiffen penalties for distributing fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid blamed for a surge of overdoses.

Representatives voted 89-2 Thursday for the bill. It now moves to the Alabama Senate, where lawmakers will decide whether to go along with House changes.

A person would be convicted of trafficking if they possess over a gram of fentanyl or 50 packages of a fentanyl mixture. The bill sets minimum mandatory sentences based on the weight.