Supreme Court urged to review ban on drug injection sites
Associated PressPHILADELPHIA — Supporters of a plan to open supervised injection sites to try to reduce overdose deaths urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday to review a court decision that bans the practice. A divided U.S. appeals court had rejected the Safehouse plan in January, although Philadelphia’s Democratic mayor and top prosecutor endorse it. The nonprofit group’s plan to open a site was thwarted when former U.S. Attorney William McSwain, a President Donald Trump appointee now running for Pennsylvania governor, argued that it violated a 1980s-era drug law aimed at “crackhouses.” The district judge rejected McSwains’ argument, but the appeals court agreed with him in a 2-1 decision that nonetheless called the goal of harm reduction “admirable.” Safehouse last month asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review that decision. The amicus brief filed Friday, signed by dozens of current and former prosecutors and law enforcement officials across the country, said Congress never intended the crackhouse statute to encompass harm reduction efforts offered by medical personnel.
History of this topic
US backs study of safe injection sites, overdose prevention
Associated Press
US backs study of safe injection sites, overdose prevention
The Independent
Pennsylvania Senate votes to ban safe injection sites
Associated Press
Vermont governor vetoes safe injection sites for drug users
Associated Press
Justice Department evaluating safe injection sites for drugs like heroin
The Independent
US appeals court: Supervised injection site defies drug law
Associated Press
US supervised injection site put on hold amid opposition
Associated Press
Supervised drug injection site in US is almost ready to open
Associated Press
Nonprofit says it will open injection site in Philadelphia
Associated Press
US judge: Injection sites don’t violate federal drug laws
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