HB203 Summary

• Adds Fentanyl and synthetic Fentanyl analogues to Schedule I controlled substances with enhanced criminal penalties for unlawful possession, distribution, and trafficking.

• Creates a new felony "trafficking in Fentanyl" charge with mandatory minimum sentences: 3 years (4-14 grams), 10 years (14-28 grams), 25 years (28-56 grams), and life imprisonment (56+ grams).

• Amends unlawful possession with intent to distribute statutes to include Fentanyl and synthetic Fentanyl analogues as Class B felonies when possessing 2-4 grams or more.

• Establishes alternative charging method allowing prosecution based on 50 or more individual packages of controlled substances instead of weight thresholds for certain offenses.

• Adds 366 named synthetic controlled substances and chemical compounds to Schedule I, including Fentanyl variants, synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones, and tryptamines, with authority for Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to identify additional analogues.