Colorado bill would make it a felony to have more than 1 gram of fentanyl

Knowingly possessing more than 1 gram of fentanyl or a fentanyl compound for personal use would be a felony in Colorado under an amendment passed Wednesday afternoon by the House Judiciary Committee to a bill seeking to stem rising overdose deaths linked to the powerful synthetic opioid.

The committee’s 7-4 vote to adopt the amendment is a response to criticism from law enforcement, who said the measure — House Bill 1326  — was too weak because it failed to change a 2019 law that made possessing up to 4 grams of fentanyl a misdemeanor. 

Harm reduction advocates argued fiercely against making fentanyl possession for personal use a felony again, saying that the criminal justice system is not a solution to addiction. 

House Bill 1326 now heads to the appropriations committee after…