California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is reportedly wavering on the idea of signing a bill to create a safe drug consumption site pilot program that was delivered to his desk last week, apparently fearful of possible political fallout despite polling data showing the harm reduction centers enjoy bipartisan voter support.
As the governor has raised his national profile in recent months, generating speculation about a possible run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2024 if President Joe Biden bows out, he’s facing pressure from reform advocates and health officials to put a stamp of approval on the safe consumption site legislation from Sen. Scott Wiener (D).
The bill would authorize San Francisco, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and Oakland to open harm reduction centers under an initial pilot program, lasting through January 1, 2028. At those centers, people could use currently illicit drugs in a medically supervised environment where staff would be trained to prevent and respond to overdoses and provide treatment resources.
It’s exactly the type of bold drug policy reform that advocates hope Newsom will lead on, especially given his record of going out in front of issues like same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization before they enjoyed supermajority
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