Kasich signs bill stiffening fentanyl penalities

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has signed a bill that increases penalties for drug trafficking and some other drug offenses when the drug involved is a fentanyl-related compound (Source: “Gov. John Kasich signs bill increasing drug penalties involving fentanyl,” Dayton Daily News, Aug. 2, 2018).

The law could add as many as eight years to sentences of drug offenders convicted of serious crimes involving drugs containing fentanyl. Increased penalties wouldn't apply if the defendant didn't know a compound contained fentanyl.

When a fentanyl-related drug conviction is connected to a homicide conviction, the law would require that prison sentences for each conviction run consecutively.

Gov. Kasich signed Senate Bill 1 on Wednesday and the law will go into effect after 90 days.