Death by distribution law in effect in North Carolina

JACKSONVILLE, NC (WCTI) — A new law recently took effect in North Carolina that officials say will work to curb drug dealing.

Under the Death by Distribution law, a drug dealer who sells a controlled substance that causes someone’s death can be charged with second-degree murder.

Before this law went into effect on December 1, Onslow County Sheriff Hans Miller says malice was needed to charge a drug dealer with second-degree murder. With the new law, he says malice is no longer needed.

“Now we can make that connection between the death and the drugs,” he explains.

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