Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) have proposed legislation to increase penalties for individuals using pill presses to manufacture counterfeit drugs, including opioids. The Criminalizing Abused Substance Templates (CAST) Act aims to modify the Controlled Substances Act by defining the criminal penalty for creating counterfeit drugs with a pill press. The current law, which prohibits this practice, is deemed to have insufficient penalties, particularly in relation to fentanyl.

U.S. Representatives David Kustoff (R-TN-08) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"Strengthening our law enforcement’s ability to crack down on illegal pill presses keeps harmful substances out of our communities," said Dr. Cassidy. "No one should have to worry if their medicines are counterfeit or laced with fentanyl."

Senator Hassan echoed these sentiments: "Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl pose a major threat to our communities. Strengthening penalties for the criminals creating these counterfeit drugs can help get them off the market," she said. "This bipartisan legislation will help ensure that law enforcement officials have the tools that they need to crack down on criminals making counterfeit drugs, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill."

The CAST Act proposes making possession of a press mold with intent to counterfeit schedule I or II substances a crime. It also seeks an increase in the offense level of manufacturing or selling controlled substances while possessing a pill press mold by at least two levels. Violations of the act could carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

The CAST Act was previously introduced by Cassidy in 2019.