The only thing that will go down are local property values. The inner-city neighborhoods where needle exchange programs would be situated already endure a disproportionate share of street crime and dysfunctional behavior. They hardly deserve the increase needle exchanges would bring. The best that can be said for needle exchange programs is that they constitute a chancy therapeutic experiment with nasty societal side effects. This bill is a perfect example of legislative tunnel vision and inattention to collateral consequences.
Current law prohibits possession of paraphernalia and devices intended for use with illegal drugs.
By authorizing paraphernalia distribution outside the needle exchange demonstration project, the bill creates an attractive alternative to heroin users looking to restock their needle supplies. But the harm of S-267 is not confined to the crippling of the needle exchange demonstration project. The bill also effects a substantive change in the law and legalizes, presumably unintentionally, the possession of all types of drug paraphernalia. It extends to syringes and needles. This effectively decriminalizes possession of crack pipes by cocaine users, water bowls by marijuana smokers and all other types of devices as long as the drug user only has 10 of each.