People who sell drugs that contribute to an overdose death could be charged with a high-level felony under a North Carolina bill that got final passage in the state’s General Assembly. The House voted 82-29 to pass the bill on Thursday, sending it to Governor Roy Cooper’s desk for his signature.

Law enforcement widely supports the bill, saying it is needed to successfully prosecute drug dealers and fight the opioid epidemic. Currently, drug distributors who contribute to an overdose death can be charged with second-degree murder, but district attorneys say it is difficult to prove malice, which is necessary to get a conviction.

Many drug users and addict-support groups oppose the bill, saying that it deters drug users from calling 911 and will result in more drug overdose deaths.

Related Stories
‹
2 North Carolina State Legislators Lose Leadership Roles Following Remarks
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON Two North Carolina state House Republicans have lost their caucus leadership positions following recent comments directed at Democratic colleagues questioning their educational attainment and religion. Reps. Keith Kidwell and Jeff McNeely have resigned as deputy majority whips after the GOP leadership team asked them to step down, House Majority Leader […]
Carrboro Police Arrest 1 on Death by Distribution Charges
The Carrboro Police Department announced it arrested and charged for a man who is accused of providing drugs last summer to a resident that died from an overdose. A release from the department on Thursday said authorities arrested John Robert Small, a 31-year-old Carrboro resident, on Wednesday in connection to the death of Bradley Zimmerman. […]
Bill to Reopen NC Gyms, Bars Sent to Skeptical Governor After Passing House
The North Carolina legislature passed another bill on Wednesday overturning parts of Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order that keep certain businesses closed to discourage the spread of COVID-19. As with previous legislation sent to him seeking to reopen bars, Cooper is also likely to veto the latest measure, which also ends the shuttering of gyms […]
Public Can Watch NC House Floor Debate Again in Person
The seats above the floor in the North Carolina House chamber are reopen to the public again. The House has voted to amend its operating rules, which keeps in place most of the adjustments it approved in April to protect the health of members and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. The seats in the […]
Governor Cooper's Vetoes May Be Remembered Most in 2019
Many of North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s lasting achievements in 2019 stem from keeping Republican policies from ever getting implemented. During a year-end interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Cooper cited successes in recruiting companies and jobs to the state, reducing the number of opioid deaths and moving the state toward cleaner energy […]
NC Legislature Goes Home, Still Without Budget Resolution
The North Carolina General Assembly went home on Thursday for a brief respite from Raleigh, still without the Republicans’ original two-year budget bill enacted and an uncertain path forward on Medicaid after nine months of legislating this year. The House and Senate adjourned its session after several hours of floor and committee debate and votes […]
North Carolina Republicans Return for Session Likely End
The North Carolina General Assembly could soon be done wrestling with legislation this year, but that doesn’t mean they’ll pin down a broad budget law or path forward on Medicaid expansion. Lawmakers return Monday following a roughly 10-day break. Senate leader Phil Berger said his chamber will be done with regular business by Oct. 31. […]
General Assembly Confirms 3 Cooper Education Board Picks
The North Carolina General Assembly has confirmed three of Gov. Roy Cooper’s recent appointments to the State Board of Education, one year after Republican legislators voted against two of his choices. House and Senate members meeting in a rare joint floor session on Wednesday voted 140-8 to approve the appointments of J.B. Buxton of Raleigh, […]
NC Remap Won't Necessarily Produce Democratic Majorities
North Carolina’s newly redrawn legislative districts are skewed less toward Republicans than the current plans, which judges rejected for political bias, but they wouldn’t necessarily guarantee Democratic majorities in 2020, redistricting experts say. The new state House and Senate district lines that the General Assembly approved this week have been sent to a three-judge panel — the same panel […]
Despite Critiques, NC Legislature on Pace to Remap on Time
Facing a deadline this week, the North Carolina legislature stayed on track to enact replacement districts for dozens of its seats on time, even as citizens critiqued the maps in a public meeting. Showing bipartisan support, the full Senate voted 38-9 on Monday evening for new chamber districts in 20 of the state’s 100 counties, most in […]
›