But if we don't get tough on the drug dealers, we're wasting our time -- just remember that, we're wasting our time -- and that toughness includes the death penalty." "To be talking about the death penalty sounds to me like a step backwards." Trump has declared the epidemic a public health emergency -- and public health experts said that's where the focus should be. The official declined to give an example of when the death penalty might be used, referring all questions to the Department of Justice. "When I start hearing about the death penalty, it just seems to me we're going in the wrong direction."

Source: CNN March 19, 2018 19:30 UTC