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FYI for the Massholes.. 
Senate OKs bill legalizing open sale of hypodermic needles
By Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press Writer | June 7, 2006
BOSTON --A bill aimed at cutting the spread of diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis C by legalizing the over-the-counter sale of clean hypodermic needles won the backing of the Massachusetts Senate on Wednesday.
Supporters said that, as the world remembers the first reports 25 years ago of what would later be identified as AIDS, Massachusetts should be taking every step it can to curb the disease -- including decriminalizing the sale of syringes without a prescription.
They said the bill, approved by a 26-8 vote, would ultimately save the state the cost of caring for people who develop diseases from sharing dirty needles and bring Massachusetts in line with 47 other states that allow the sale of syringes.
"There are diseases and illnesses that are preventable and there are those that are not," said Sen. Steven Tolman, D-Boston. "HIV and hepatitis C are preventable and that is what this is about."
Critics said the bill, which would also decriminalize the possession of hypodermic needles, will encourage the use of drugs and end up producing more dirty needles.
Senate Republican leader Brian Lees of East Longmeadow said that if there was such a demand for the bill, more communities would have adopted needle exchange programs, which allow drug users and others without prescriptions to trade in dirty needles for clean ones.
Only four Massachusetts cities now have needle exchange programs.
"This is wrong. We are promoting and encouraging an illegal activity," Lees said, adding that the bill will protect drug users.
The House passed the bill last year by a 115-37 margin. Gov. Mitt Romney, who is weighing a run for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, is opposed to the plan. The bill needs a final procedural vote in both chambers before heading to Romney's desk. It has more than the two-thirds support needed in both chambers to override a veto.
Public Safety Secretary Robert Haas, appointed by Romney, sent a letter to senators arguing the bill would legitimize drug use and complicate efforts to enforce laws against heroin and other injectable drugs.
"This initiative will dramatically increase the amount of dirty needles present in our communities, presenting a threat to children who may come in contact with them," Haas said in the letter, also signed State Police Colonel Tom Robbins.
Some law enforcement officers, including Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley, a Democratic candidate for attorney general, support the bill.
Rebecca Haag, executive director of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts called the bill the "single most important thing that the state can do to stop new infections of HIV/AIDS."
Haad said 39 percent of HIV infections and 60 percent of hepatitis C infections could be traced back to the use of shared dirty needles.
"This is historic in its ability to save lives," Haag said of the bill.
Sen. Robert Antonioni, D-Leominster, said the bill sends the wrong message.
"By promoting the availability of these needles we may unwittingly ... be promoting and not lessening the incidences of drug use," he said. "We may be embarking on the wrong path here."
But Sen. Robert O'Leary, D-Barnstable, said there's no substantial evidence linking the legalization of syringes with a rise in drug use.
"What we do know is that decriminalizing needles save lives, lots of lives," he said.
Supporters said the bill will reduce the number of needle stick injuries to police officers because possession of a needle will no longer be a crime and people won't have an incentive to lie about having a needle in their pocket.
But Haas said the bill would actually put police in more danger because suspects may be more likely to be carrying used needles.
Senate OKs bill legalizing open sale of hypodermic needles
By Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press Writer | June 7, 2006
BOSTON --A bill aimed at cutting the spread of diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis C by legalizing the over-the-counter sale of clean hypodermic needles won the backing of the Massachusetts Senate on Wednesday.
Supporters said that, as the world remembers the first reports 25 years ago of what would later be identified as AIDS, Massachusetts should be taking every step it can to curb the disease -- including decriminalizing the sale of syringes without a prescription.
They said the bill, approved by a 26-8 vote, would ultimately save the state the cost of caring for people who develop diseases from sharing dirty needles and bring Massachusetts in line with 47 other states that allow the sale of syringes.
"There are diseases and illnesses that are preventable and there are those that are not," said Sen. Steven Tolman, D-Boston. "HIV and hepatitis C are preventable and that is what this is about."
Critics said the bill, which would also decriminalize the possession of hypodermic needles, will encourage the use of drugs and end up producing more dirty needles.
Senate Republican leader Brian Lees of East Longmeadow said that if there was such a demand for the bill, more communities would have adopted needle exchange programs, which allow drug users and others without prescriptions to trade in dirty needles for clean ones.
Only four Massachusetts cities now have needle exchange programs.
"This is wrong. We are promoting and encouraging an illegal activity," Lees said, adding that the bill will protect drug users.
The House passed the bill last year by a 115-37 margin. Gov. Mitt Romney, who is weighing a run for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, is opposed to the plan. The bill needs a final procedural vote in both chambers before heading to Romney's desk. It has more than the two-thirds support needed in both chambers to override a veto.
Public Safety Secretary Robert Haas, appointed by Romney, sent a letter to senators arguing the bill would legitimize drug use and complicate efforts to enforce laws against heroin and other injectable drugs.
"This initiative will dramatically increase the amount of dirty needles present in our communities, presenting a threat to children who may come in contact with them," Haas said in the letter, also signed State Police Colonel Tom Robbins.
Some law enforcement officers, including Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley, a Democratic candidate for attorney general, support the bill.
Rebecca Haag, executive director of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts called the bill the "single most important thing that the state can do to stop new infections of HIV/AIDS."
Haad said 39 percent of HIV infections and 60 percent of hepatitis C infections could be traced back to the use of shared dirty needles.
"This is historic in its ability to save lives," Haag said of the bill.
Sen. Robert Antonioni, D-Leominster, said the bill sends the wrong message.
"By promoting the availability of these needles we may unwittingly ... be promoting and not lessening the incidences of drug use," he said. "We may be embarking on the wrong path here."
But Sen. Robert O'Leary, D-Barnstable, said there's no substantial evidence linking the legalization of syringes with a rise in drug use.
"What we do know is that decriminalizing needles save lives, lots of lives," he said.
Supporters said the bill will reduce the number of needle stick injuries to police officers because possession of a needle will no longer be a crime and people won't have an incentive to lie about having a needle in their pocket.
But Haas said the bill would actually put police in more danger because suspects may be more likely to be carrying used needles.
