A federal judge in Philadelphia confirmed on Tuesday a ruling authorizing the creation of the first controlled injection room, or "shooting room," in the United States, but the federal prosecutor has already announced that he will appeal.
The project was launched by the association Safehouse, created especially for the occasion, and benefits from the support of the city and the mayor Jim Kenney, as well as the local prosecutor, Larry Krasner. But the federal prosecutor, who reports directly to the Ministry of Justice, has relayed the position of the Trump government, which opposes the opening of this room whose location has not yet been announced.
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Comparing the place to a "crack house" (squat where people smuggle drugs), the prosecutor relies on a federal law which prohibits the opening and exploitation of any place intended for manufacturing, trade or drug use. But in a first decision, rendered in early October, federal judge Gerald McHugh had concluded that "the ultimate goal of the installation of Safehouse (was) to reduce drug use, not to facilitate it". On Tuesday, the same magistrate confirmed his judgment and dismissed a government appeal.
"We disagree with the judgment and intend to appeal immediately," said federal prosecutor William McSwain, who was quoted in a statement as saying. Mayor Jim Kenney applauded the judgment and indicated that the municipality intends to support private operators who would like to set up controlled injection rooms in Philadelphia.
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Several other cities in the United States have indicated their interest in the creation of such centers, such as New York, whose mayor Bill de Blasio indicated in May 2018 that he wished the creation of four rooms, based on a report from the health authorities. municipal. But since then, the project has been stopped. New York State health manager Howard Zucker highlighted in February 2019 the legal risk posed by the establishment of a room.
A final decision in the Philadelphia case, on appeal or before the Supreme Court, is therefore eagerly awaited, in New York but also in cities like Seattle or Denver, where projects are pending. A bill to create six halls in San Francisco was passed by the California Assembly, but is still stuck in the local Senate.
