Governor should listen to himself - and sign needle-exchange bill
Monday, July 25, 2005 - Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger acknowledged that the current system of requiring counties and cities with free needle-exchange programs to reauthorize the programs every two weeks is "cumbersome."
And then the governor vetoed Assemblywoman Patty Berg's bill that would have eliminated this ridiculous requirement.
It appears that Schwarzenegger, like Gray Davis before him, didn't want to be known as someone who encourages drug use.
Too bad the governor didn't read the substantial body of literature on needle-exchange programs, which finds that they don't increase drug use. In fact, a five-year California study found that needle-exchange programs actually resulted in a decline in IV drug use. The programs do, however, result in a reduction in HIV infection rates among IV drug users.
If Schwarzenegger won't believe the research, perhaps he will believe law enforcement officials. Berg has reintroduced the bill, AB547, and this year she has the support of the California Peace Officers' Association and the California Narcotics Officers' Association.
Hopefully, these organizations will provide Schwarzenegger the statistics - and the backbone - to sign this important bill when it arrives on his desk.
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