https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle-old/367/njneps.shtml

The battle over needle exchange programs (NEPs) continues in New Jersey. After a decade of struggle to legalize the practice, which has repeatedly been shown to reduce the rate of spread of blood-borne diseases such as AIDS and Hepatitis C among injection drug users, outgoing Gov. James McGreevey bypassed a recalcitrant legislature and okayed the practice by executive order last month (https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle-old/360/njneps.shtml).

Late last week, three legislators vowed to go to court to block McGreevey's order. The lawsuit, which will be filed by Sens. Ronald Rice (D-Essex) and Tom Kean (R-Union) and Assemblyman Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris), will argue that McGreevey exceeded his powers by granting the executive order. McGreevey's order declared that the spread of AIDS via needle-sharing was a "public health emergency," and would allow cities like Atlantic City and Camden to establish NEPs to get clean needles to addicts.

"He overstepped his bounds," Pennacchio told reporters on December 10. The legislators will argue that McGreevey had no right to issue the order without the legislature's approval. Inspired by the efforts of Atlantic City and Camden to enact NEPs to reduce the AIDS rate in their hard-hit communities, a bill to allow NEPs in the state passed the Assembly earlier this year, but died in the Senate.

"The governor in signing that executive order exceeded his authority," said Michael Laffey, the attorney representing the lawmakers. "He usurped the power of the legislature."

Although New Jersey has one of the nation's highest injection-related AIDS infection rates, the legislators scoffed at the notion it constituted an emergency under the state's Disaster Control Act. "It's not an emergency," Pennacchio said. "Cars not being able to get through on the roads, that's an emergency."

	Please make a generous donation to support Drug War Chronicle in 2007!

PERMISSION to reprint or redistribute any or all of the contents of Drug War Chronicle (formerly The Week Online with DRCNet is hereby granted. We ask that any use of these materials include proper credit and, where appropriate, a link to one or more of our web sites. If your publication customarily pays for publication, DRCNet requests checks payable to the organization. If your publication does not pay for materials, you are free to use the materials gratis. In all cases, we request notification for our records, including physical copies where material has appeared in print. Contact: StoptheDrugWar.org: the Drug Reform Coordination Network, P.O. Box 18402, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 293-8340 (voice), (202) 293-8344 (fax), e-mail [email protected]. Thank you.

Articles of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of the DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

Out from the Shadows HEA Drug Provision Drug War Chronicle Perry Fund DRCNet en Español Speakeasy Blogs About Us Home Why Legalization? NJ Racial Profiling Archive Subscribe Donate DRCNet em Português Latest News Drug Library Search special friends links: SSDP - Flex Your Rights - IAL - Drug War Facts StoptheDrugWar.org: the Drug Reform Coordination Network (DRCNet) 1623 Connecticut Ave., NW, 3rd Floor, Washington DC 20009 Phone (202) 293-8340 Fax (202) 293-8344 [email protected]