A New York Assembly committee on Tuesday advanced a bill to establish a statewide safe consumption site program, allowing regulators to authorize facilities where people could use currently illicit drugs in a medically supervised environment. The legislation from Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D) was reported out of the Assembly Health Committee, with a few Democrats joining the Republican minority in voting against it. The bill now heads to the Codes Committee before potentially moving to the floor for consideration. Under the proposal, the New York Health Department and local agencies would have the ability to authorize safe consumption sites and regulate the facilities. The intent of the legislation is to prevent overdose deaths by having medical professionals on-site at places where they can use pre-obtained controlled substances without facing the threat of arrest or incarceration. People would also be given treatment resources. Further, the bill would require facilities to provide syringe exchange services where people could obtain sterile hypodermic needles and also safely deposit used syringes.
Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 05/10/2022 15:42:00