Among the issues discussed at Tuesday’s Wichita City Council Meeting was the possibility of reducing the penalties for possession of fentanyl test strips.
Fentanyl test strips are currently illegal in the state, but the city can tell police officers not to acknowledge test strips.
Mayor Brandon Whipple highlighted that the fentanyl crisis in is the number one killer of people between the ages of 18 and 45, but also questioned the illegality of testing strips.
“Do we want our officers out there fighting crime? Or do we want them actually arresting a mother who bought test strips for her son who is fighting addiction…to try to make sure he has the best chance of recovery?” Whipple asked.
Whipple added that is not endorsing fentanyl test strips, but is questioning about how city resources are being used.
Interim Wichita Police Chief Lem Moore says a town hall is being organized to raise awareness on the fentanyl crisis in the next few weeks.
A decision on this issue, along with possible penalty reduction for marijuana possession has been pushed back to August 2nd.
