California governor rejects supervised drug injection plan

By JANIE HAR
Today

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California Gov. Jerry Brown rejected legislation on Sunday that would have allowed San Francisco to open what could be the nation’s first supervised drug injection site under a pilot program.

Advocates of “safe injection” sites say the locations would save lives by preventing drug overdoses and providing access to counseling.

But the U.S. government and other critics say taxpayers should not be helping users shoot up heroin, methamphetamine or other illegal drugs.

“Fundamentally I do not believe that enabling illegal drug use in government sponsored injection centers — with no corresponding requirement that the use undergo treatment - will reduce drug addiction,” Brown said in his announcement of the veto.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has vowed to open a supervised injection site, saying the status quo is not acceptable in a city known for rampant drug use. It’s not uncommon to see people injecting drugs in public, and used needles are a major source of trash.

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