Cassidy’s bipartisan, bicameral bill increases penalty for illegal use of pill presses

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) recently unveiled bipartisan, bicameral legislation to bolster federal penalties against individuals found guilty of making illegal drugs using pill presses.

Sen. Cassidy on Sept. 26 sponsored the Criminalizing Abused Substance Templates (CAST) Act, S. 2573, with U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to prohibit the knowing possession of a pill press mold with intent to manufacture a counterfeit substance in schedule I or II in a capsule, tablet and other form intended for distribution, according to the congressional record summary.

“Illegal pill presses subject innocent families to counterfeit drugs,” Sen. Cassidy said. “The CAST Act strengthens law enforcement’s ability to keep dangerous substances out of our communities so that families can know their medicines are authentic.”

If enacted, S. 2573 would modify the Controlled Substances Act to define making counterfeit drugs using a pill press a crime punishable by 20 years in prison, according to Sen. Cassidy’s office, which noted that current law prohibits the practice but doesn’t define the penalty.

U.S. Reps. David Kustoff (R-TN) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) on Sept. 26 introduced the same-named H.R. 4510 in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I’ll keep working with Senator Cassidy and our colleagues in the House to advance this bipartisan legislation that will help strengthen our efforts to combat substance misuse and keep our communities safe,” Sen. Hassan said.