DENVER – Yesterday, Senator Byron Pelton’s bill to improve public safety and combat illegal drugs sales passed in the Senate. Senate Bill 23-109 will treat all illegal drug sales that result in a death as a Class 1 felony. 

Drug overdoses in the state of Colorado continue to increase, with close to 2,000 Coloradans dying from drug related causes in 2021. Since 2018, the number of annual drug overdoses in the state of Colorado has nearly doubled. 

“Enough is enough,” Senator Pelton said. “Colorado is currently facing a drug epidemic fueled by soft-on-crime policies enacted by this legislature. This bill makes our message clear: drug dealers who peddle illegal drugs on our streets will face the fullest extent of the law.”

Earlier this week, Senate Bill 23-109 was debated for several hours on the Senate floor. With bi-partisan support the bill passed, and is due to be considered in the House in the coming weeks. 

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