Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors on Wednesday said she has joined all 56 attorneys general across the nation (it includes U.S. territories and the District of Columbia) in calling for Congress to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs.

According to a press release from Connors’ office, Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

The attorneys general want Congress to pass the Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting (FIGHT) Fentanyl Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Joe Manchin (D-WV).

Connors said, “The FIGHT Fetanyl Act is critical to addressing the opioid epidemic.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration issued a temporary scheduling order in February 2018 to schedule fentanyl-related substances “that has allowed federal law enforcement authorities to bring criminal actions against individuals who manufacture, distribute or handle fentanyl-related substances.”

But the order will expire on Feb. 6.

Schedule I drugs include heroin, LSD, cannabis, ecstasy, methaqualone and peyote.