San Francisco supervisors approve needle-selling law

The San Francisco board of supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance that will allow Walgreens and Rite Aid pharmacies in the city to sell up to 10 hypodermic needles to adults without a prescription, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The ordinance, approved unanimously by the supervisors, was considered under a new state law that took effect January 1 that allows localities to sell syringes without a prescription to help prevent needle sharing among injection-drug users and prevent HIV and hepatitis transmissions. The ordinance was sponsored by supervisors Bevan Dufty, Tom Ammiano, and Ross Mirkarimi and supported by key officials in the city's health department. A second hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for next week. If the supervisors approve the ordinance a second time, it will then go to Mayor Gavin Newsom, who is expected to sign it. The ordinance will take effect 30 days after signed into law.