HB 4667 now goes to the Senate. If passed, syringe service programs in the state would be banned from giving out ‘smoking devices’ to people who use drugs despite evidence showing the benefit.
Under a bill passed by the House on Tuesday, syringe service programs in West Virginia may soon be prohibited from distributing safe smoking equipment to people who use drugs.
House Bill 4667 passed the House 88-12, with two Democrats — Dels. Hollis Lewis, D-Kanawha and Ric Griffith, D-Wayne — splitting from their party colleagues to support the bill. Three Republicans — Dels. David Green, R-McDowell; Keith Marple, R-Harrison and Phil Mallow, R-Marion — voted down the bill with the other Democrats.
Tags: Legislation Needle Exchange Opioid Epidemic Programs