WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08), spoke at the Healthy Tennessee Opioid Summit where health care professionals, law enforcement, and community leaders across the state come together to discuss ways to combat the opioid epidemic. While there, he unveiled his new bill, the Criminalizing Abused Substance Templates (CAST) Act of 2019. The CAST Act modifies the Controlled Substances Act to define the criminal penalty for making counterfeit drugs using a pill press. Current law prohibits this practice but does not define the penalty. The CAST Act will make possession of a pill press mold, with the intent to counterfeit schedule I or II substances, a crime and allow for sentencing on possession alone for up to 20 years.
“Healthy Tennessee does a great job bringing together stakeholders across our state to find solutions to end the opioid crisis that affects so many of us. That is why I choose to unveil my new bill, the CAST Act, today at this great event,” said Rep. David Kustoff. “We owe it to our loved ones to take stronger action to fight back against the opioid epidemic. The CAST Act is the much needed, bold step forward in this fight. It will increase penalties against possession of harmful drugs and pill press molds, helping to combat the illegal drug market and the dangers it presents to people across our nation. I am honored to take the lead on this in Congress, and I look forward to its passage.”