BILL WOULD MAKE CLEAN NEEDLES AVAILABLE

SANTA FE - The Senate with no debate on Tuesday passed a bill allowing
pharmacists to sell hypodermic needles without fear of criminal
prosecution. The bill is one of the "harm reduction" measures sought by
Gov. Gary Johnson as part of his drug reform package.

It was approved on a vote of 32-7 and went to the House.

Its sponsor, Sen. Roman Maes, D-Santa Fe, said making clean needles more
readily available would cut down the transmission of diseases such as AIDS
and hepatitis.

Johnson has gained national attention as a critic of the war on drugs. He
advocates decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and
reducing penalties for the possession of some other drugs.

The governor also is promoting measures to legalize the medical use of
marijuana, and to allow police officers and others to administer a drug to
save the lives of heroin overdose victims.

The Senate last week approved another Johnson-backed bill, an overhaul of
the state's asset forfeiture law.