The issue of the legalization of narcotic substances has been one of the most discussed for more than a decade. During this time, many pros and cons of this measure have been identified, many debates have taken place with the participation of politicians and activists, and countless studies have been conducted to find out how people relate to such practice.

The theme of legalization is reflected in art. So, in the cult series “Wiretapping,” was shown how an experiment on the creation of special neighborhoods can be crowned, where people can freely trade and use drugs without being persecuted by the police.

In this article, we will talk about how legal drug consumption is organized in America, how it is controlled, and whether it is completely legal or not.

The Origin of The Idea

For the first time, ex-Mayor of New York Bill de Blasio spoke about the creation of specialized centers for controlled drug use. At the end of his term as mayor, he managed to open the first point for specialized drug use as part of a program to reduce the number of overdose deaths.

The place was arranged as follows:

• Only clean and sterile needles are used in the center.
• The staff monitors the use of narcotic substances to avoid overdose.
• People can use heroin or fentanyl. However, they must bring the substances themselves.  

Clean needle distribution and recycling companies were responsible for the entire operation of the center.

Numbers

After the opening of the center, various research organizations began to work on collecting statistical data on the operation of these institutions.

Here’s what they managed to find out:

• In 2018, four centers for controlled drug use managed to prevent more than 130 overdose deaths.
• The work of the center contributed to saving government spending.
• The number of infections through dirty syringes has decreased.

After the opening of the center in New York, more than 100 similar points appeared in the world, most of which were in European countries.  

Legality  

Despite the fact that more and more controlled drug use centers appear in the United States every year, this measure remains officially illegal. According to the law, narcotic substances such as heroin and fentanyl are prohibited from distribution and storage. This measure has a state status, which means that law enforcement officers can come and close such a center at any time. What stops them from such actions? There are two factors.

First, high-ranking politicians, for example, Bill de Blasio or Donald Trump, regularly send petitions to the Attorney General asking him not to close the centers. The strength of their influence is enough that the points continued to work. Secondly, if the Federal Services decide to close all the centers, this does not mean that the Drug Enforcement Administration will also support this measure, and the centers for controlled drug use are the area of the DEA.

Nevertheless, while the country has a law on the “crack house statute,” the essence of which is to ban activities aimed at owning, operating, or renting an institution where drugs are used, the state of controlled drug use points remains shaky and dependent on the decision of the US Attorney General.