Although Trump has already given support to the idea of executing drug dealers, today it was made official.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent out a Bradburyesque memo to US attorneys that strongly encourages federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in violent as well as non-violent drug-related cases, including the execution of people "dealing in extremely large quantity of drugs."
Via CNBC:
According to the U.S. statutes, an "extremely large" quantity of drugs means distributing at least 600 times the amount of a given substance that would bring penalties of five to 40 years in prison…
Sessions' letter went into more detail, however, when describing the application of the death penalty in the fight against the drug crisis.
"I strongly encourage federal prosecutors to use these statutes, when appropriate, to aid in our continuing fight against drug trafficking and the destruction it causes in our nation," Sessions said.
JUST IN: In memo to US attorneys, AG Sessions directs them to pursue the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes.
The move has been supported by President Trump. https://t.co/vbVm2oOqHQ pic.twitter.com/YM8kcivDzI
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 21, 2018
Image: U.S. Customs and Border Protection – 160120-H-NI589-0103, Public Domain, Link