Melendez introduces bill targeting Fentanyl dealers

RIVERSIDE  - Sen. Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, today introduced legislation targeting drug dealers who sell fentanyl to youths, contributing to a surge in drug-related deaths statewide. "As the mother of five children, I can't imagine what it would be like to lose a child to drug poisoning,'' Melendez said. "This pandemic has led to a devastating rise in fentanyl-induced deaths across California.'' She said "Alexandra's Law'' was introduced and titled in honor of 20-year-old Alexandra Capelouto of Temecula, a college student who died in December 2019 after taking the drug. SB 350 would establish ``implied malice'' in connection with fentanyl fatalities, identical to the principle behind malice in driving under the influence offenses, according to Melendez. The bill would specific