Charleston, West Virginia (WSAZ) West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed Lauren’s Law into law on Thursday, increasing the penalties for crimes involving fentanyl and other deadly substances in the state.
The bill is named after Lauren Cole, a 26-year-old Morgantown resident and West Virginia University graduate who died after unknowingly consuming fentanyl-laced drugs.
Lauren’s Law amends the West Virginia criminal code to increase penalties for drug-related offenses, including:
- Increased sentences for fentanyl delivery.
- Increasing the penalties for transporting and conspiring to transport fentanyl into the state.
- Creating mandatory prison sentences for high-level drug offenses.
- Adding a new offense for delivery resulting in death, with a mandatory 10- to 40-year sentence.
- Creating a new offense for drug kingpins with a mandatory 10- to 40-year sentence.
