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Committee hears bill to expand child‑endangerment law to include exposure to fentanyl and marijuana products
Summary
Senate Bill 261 would broaden Montana’s criminal endangerment statute to cover causing or permitting a child to inhale or ingest marijuana products and to account for fentanyl exposure in searches; the attorney general and prosecutors urged passage while lawmakers pressed for safeguards on testing and intent standards.
Senators on the Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 261, a proposal to expand Montana’s criminal endangerment statute to include exposure of children to marijuana (including THC products) and to make fentanyl‑related production and exposure grounds for child endangerment charges.
Senator Greg Hertz, sponsor of SB 261, told the committee the bill adds items to the existing offense of endangering the welfare of a child. The changes cited in committee include language on "causing or permitting the child to inhale, be exposed to, or ingest marijuana including marijuana THC products such as ingestible foods or drinks," and language addressing human trafficking and assisting a child to enter locations tied to drug production or adult‑use dispensaries.
Austin Knudsen, Montana…
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