New Law re: Mail entering U.S.

[hqinmaine]

I just heard today this was being proposed in congress, concerns "USPS advance data to customs as to origin and delivery". This is primarily aimed at synthetic fentanyl from China and India, due to overdose deaths here in US. 

Draw your own conclusions, not sure how dangerous for us. Certainly not positive. From Washington Examiner today:

The bill aims to target how the drugs are getting into the U.S. via the mail system.
Unlike UPS or FedEx, the U.S. Postal Service doesn't require advance electronic customs data for "the vast majority of mail entering the United States," according to a statement announcing the bill. "Because of the volume of mail, Customs and Border Protection cannot manually scan these packages and stop illicit goods from crossing our borders."
The bill would require postal shipments from foreign countries to provide electronic advance data such as who and where the package is from, where it is going and what is in it. The data must be provided before the shipments cross the border into the U.S.

All my shipments have been EMS, a private service. Is this a private service and exempt? Just want to get any ideas on this.

I doubt this law will pass as will be super cumbersome on private shippers. These companies have powerful lobbying firms with much more resources to stop a law they don't like than anti-drug groups. LE won't like either as it will make them do more work. They are already understaffed and talk of more budget cuts isn't helpful.

Laws like these are proposed daily and make it into news bylines. Congress people usually just talk about it to appease interest groups or individuals with no real power. It like a PR thing to make everyone think they care.

Truth told, those who are making money off of contraband are much more powerful and I doubt a law like this will even make it through a congressional committee, especially with Republicans in charge as they hate regulation that costs big business money.

I totally agree. So, I checked again to see the status of the bills and they are exactly where they were a month age. Unchanged, not advanced from when the sponsors read their proposal to congress. (And I actually TRIED to read this amendment to the 1930's Tariff Act 
and got more confused. It reads like the Postmaster will get arrested for not ensuring mail has an electronic advance, gives dimensions for the size of letters, tariffs (1.00), and substitution language changing commas to periods. Since this even isn't a law, probably won't be a law, I APOLOGIZE FOR EVEN BRINGING IT UP. ESPECIALLY TO APOCALYPTIC PREPPERS. 
Maybe there are some smart lawyers here who can decipher it. The STOP (Synthetic Trafficking and Overdose Prevention) Act. Scary name. I still believe it is aimed at the fentynal suppliers in China.  


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[hqinmaine]

Just a quick check on the "STOP" act, introduced in February this year. It has not moved from the Senate or the House since its introduction. It has a whopping 11% chance of being enacted. I revisited this as focus on the opioid epidemic has heated up. Since no money was allocated for the opioid "emergency", I do not expect any changes to "our" mail. I do expect more focus on research chemicals from China, aka fentanyl precursors, to have increased scrutiny. And I'm okay with that since they caused this whole epidemic in the first 
place. 

[irie311]

Just a quick check on the "STOP" act, introduced in February this year. It has not moved from the Senate or the House since its introduction. It has a whopping 11% chance of being enacted. I revisited this as focus on the opioid epidemic has heated up. Since no money was allocated for the opioid "emergency", I do not expect any changes to "our" mail. I do expect more focus on research chemicals from China, aka fentanyl precursors, to have increased scrutiny. And I'm okay with that since they caused this whole epidemic in the first 
place. 

yea that's exactly what started this whole thing is fentanyl and carafentinil(elephant opiate based sedatives) and it was killing drug dogs and injuring agents and 90% of it is link back to China with the other research stuff, just don't worry and be careful where and how your magazines get to u. Always keep a back up plan though cause ya never know we've seen it before, I personally wouldn't worry about it unless your in it big and then still....

[Raven]

irie311:

Excellent comments on hqinmaine's post. I agree completely.

What remains to be seen is whether or not those of us that order lower Schedule meds. in low volume will be swept up in the Feds. war on Opioids. It has me a bit worried, even though I have zero involvement with PK's..

One thing is for certain, no matter what your cure is, we will all be safer if they can shut down the availability of synthetic opioid drugs such as Fentanyl which has effects on the human body that are an order of magnitude greater than natural opiates such as Morphine. Synthetic opioids are horribly dangerous drugs!

The current (2) part series published in The New Yorker magazine really brings the problem home. There are no winners in this game. Read it if you get a chance.

Raven

[Parapluie]

Not sure whether I should post here or elsewhere but has anyone been affected by tariffs?

[IceWizard]

Hasn't seemed to impact me .... Yet

Only time will tell

Ice

[Charon]

hey guys. hope u r well. i am still alive and reading from time to time.

[IceWizard]

I've been having you on my mind ...

You already know how I worry ...

Missed you

Ice

[Charon]

missed u also Ice. and all of u.

but, so far, i am back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Parapluie]

Glad to see you back Charon!