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California May Not Have the Nation's First Safe Injection Site for Drug Users After All

California will not legalize safe injection sites for drug users this year after a state bill failed to pass the Senate on the last day of the legislative session Friday.

California will not legalize safe injection sites for drug users this year after a state bill failed to pass the Senate on the last day of the legislative session Friday.

State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, a co-author of the bill, said he intended to ask the Senate to reconsider the proposal after it failed by two votes Tuesday night, but apparently the support wasn’t there and no vote occurred.

Assemblywoman Susan Eggman, D-Stockton, who introduced the bill, announced her decision late Friday that she wouldn’t ask for the bill to be reconsidered by the Senate.

“Tonight I decided with my dedicated co-authors … that I would not bring Assembly Bill 186 up for another vote prior to the end of the session,” Eggman said in a statement posted on Twitter Friday night. “We have made incredible progress on this life-saving policy, from not getting a vote in policy committee last year all the way to the Senate floor.”

“While I am disappointed that the bill will not pass at this time, I am committed to finding a way forward next year. The opioid epidemic continues and new solutions are desperately need.”

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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