Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §1101, sub-§17, ¶D, as amended by PL 1999, c. 453, §2, is further amended to read:

D. To possess with the intent to do any act mentioned in paragraph C; or

Sec. 2. 17-A MRSA §1101, sub-§17, ¶E, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 453, §3, is amended to read:

E. To possess 2 grams or more of heroin or 90 or more individual bags, folds, packages, envelopes or containers of any kind containing heroin.; or

Sec. 3. 17-A MRSA §1101, sub-§17, ¶F is enacted to read:

F.__To possess 90 or more pills, capsules, tablets, vials, ampules, syringes or units containing any narcotic drug other than heroin.

Sec. 4. 17-A MRSA §1101, sub-§18, ¶B, as amended by PL 1999, c. 453, §4, is further amended to read:

B. To possess with the intent to do any act mentioned in paragraph A; or

Sec. 5. 17-A MRSA §1101, sub-§18, ¶C, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 453, §5, is amended to read:

C. To possess at least one gram but less than 2 grams of heroin or at least 45 but fewer than 90 individual bags, folds, packages, envelopes or containers of any kind containing heroin.; or

Sec. 6. 17-A MRSA §1101, sub-§18, ¶D is enacted to read:

D.__To possess at least 45 but fewer than 90 pills, capsules, tablets, vials, ampules, syringes or units containing any narcotic drug other than heroin.

SUMMARY

This bill brings the treatment of illegally possessed prescription narcotic pills, an increasing substance abuse threat in the State, into conformity with the treatment of heroin under the Maine Criminal Code. It does so by expanding the definition of "trafficking" to include the possession of 90 or more pills or other units of narcotic prescription drugs with no further proof