# Understanding the SIFT Act of 2023

This bill targets fentanyl-related substances—dangerous synthetic drugs that are chemically similar to fentanyl but designed to skirt existing drug laws. The core purpose is to make it illegal to manufacture, distribute, or possess these fentanyl knockoffs by classifying them as Schedule I controlled substances, the most restrictive category under federal drug law. Right now, drug makers create new versions of fentanyl by making small chemical tweaks to the original formula, which technically creates a "new" drug that isn't yet illegal. This bill closes that loophole by creating a catch-all definition that covers any substance structurally related to fentanyl, no matter how it's been modified.

For most people, this means law enforcement will have clearer tools to prosecute dealers and manufacturers who create these dangerous synthetic drugs. The bill specifically names 13 fentanyl variants and then adds a broad category covering any future variations, so drug makers can't simply tweak the formula to stay ahead of the law. This is particularly important because fentanyl-related substances are extremely potent and have contributed significantly to overdose deaths across the country. By making these drugs explicitly illegal at the federal level, prosecutors won't have to argue about whether each new variant technically violates existing laws.

The bill also includes provisions to help medical researchers continue their work. If researchers were already studying fentanyl-related substances when they become illegal, they can continue their work while they apply for proper authorization. The bill streamlines the registration process for scientists studying controlled substances, allowing researchers at the same campus to operate under a single registration instead of getting separate approvals for each location. It also allows researchers to process these substances into different forms and develop dosage forms needed for drug development without needing separate manufacturing licenses. These changes are designed to speed up legitimate medical research into potential treatments while keeping the drugs off the street.

SIFT Act of 2023

Luetkemeyer, Blaine

Stopping Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act of 2023 or the SIFT Act of 2023 This bill permanently adds five fentanyl analogues and the entire category of fentanyl-related substances to schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act. Fentanyl-related substances are currently regulated under schedule I through a temporary order issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The temporary order expires on December 31, 2024. The bill also creates a process to remove from schedule I certain fentanyl-related substances that do not have a high potential for abuse.