Pubdate: Wed, 22 Mar 2017
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Abbotsford News
Contact:  http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155

TOUGHER SENTENCES FOR SELLING FENTANYL WELCOMED

A judge at B.C.'s top court is calling for stronger sentences for
people who sell fentanyl.

We couldn't agree more.

In a ruling posted online Friday, the B.C. Court of Appeal dismissed
an appeal to increase the six-month sentence of a 59-year-old man who
was caught with drugs, including 2.6 grams of the deadly opioid.

The Crown had argued that the sentence wasn't enough, but the effort
was denied, since fentanyl-related deaths were not as prevalent at the
time of the offence. However, the three judges agreed the court should
identify a higher sentencing range because of the current "public
health crisis associated with illicit fentanyl."

The judge who dissented in the judgment, Justice Mary Newbury, called
for a sentence of 18 to 36 months - or possibly even higher.

Frank Stanley Smith, a first-time offender, tried to sell drugs to an
undercover cop in 2015 on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The current
sentencing range for first-time offenders is six to 12 months - the
same as heroin.

It's no secret what a horrible toll deadly opioids like fentanyl have
taken on our local streets.

While the feds have announced an additional $10 million for B.C.'s
fight, along with $65 million nationwide over the next five years, we
believe getting much tougher with the scumbags who sell the deadly
stuff will also help save lives.

It certainly can't hurt.

- - Black Press
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MAP posted-by: Matt