BOSTON (AP) — The highest court in Massachusetts has ruled that privately-run hypodermic needle exchange programs can be operated without state or community approval.
The Supreme Judicial Court in its ruling Wednesday said the nonprofit AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod is allowed to operate in the town of Barnstable.
The organization since 2009 has been providing clean syringes to stem the spread of HIV and hepatitis C.
The town in 2015 issued a cease-and-desist order saying the organization needed board of health approval. The town made its own public health argument, saying discarded needles endanger the public.
The high court agreed with the nonprofit, which said a 2006 state law that decriminalized the possession and distribution of hypodermic needles overrode a 1993 law that required needle exchange programs to have state and municipal approval.
- Posted June 16, 2017
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
Court rules private needle exchange programs are legal
headlines Macomb
headlines National
- Online shoppers find deals on the Temu app, but states say the trade-off is personal data
- Florida Bar reverses itself, says it is not investigating Lindsey Halligan
- Attorney indicted for trying to kill her husband of more than 25 years
- American Bar Association cites members’ needs in law firm intimidation hearing
- OpenAI sued for practicing law without a license
- Lindsey Halligan being investigated by the Florida Bar
