Governor Vetoes Syringe Sale Bill, Extends Pilot Project
Last week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) vetoed a bill (SB 1029), by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), that would have let pharmacies throughout the state sell sterile syringes to adults without a prescription in an effort to curb the spread of HIV, hepatitis and other blood-borne diseases. Instead, the governor signed into law AB 1701, by Assembly member Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata), which will extend for eight years the existing Disease Prevention Demonstration Project. The pilot project lets city and county governments determine whether to let pharmacies sell syringes.
- "Schwarzenegger Splits the Baby on Syringe Sales" (Richman, San Jose Mercury News, 10/1).