California lawmaker wants to allow supervised heroin use

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California lawmaker wants to allow people to use heroin, crack, opioids and other drugs at supervised facilities that would be the nation’s first legal drug-injection sites.

Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman introduced the proposal Tuesday in an effort to address the growing number of drug overdoses in California and nationwide. But lawmakers seemed reluctant to support the measure, postponing a committee vote.

The Democrat’s bill would make it legal for local and state health departments to allow the use of controlled substances in clinics that could offer medical intervention.

Several U.S. cities also are considering allowing supervised injection sites.

Canadian Sen. Larry Campbell joined Eggman in Sacramento in support of the proposal. He helped establish North America’s only such facility in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2003.