Table 4.
Laws governing possession of syringes by participants of syringe services programs (SSPs) in the 50 US states and the District of Columbia, 2019
| Legal Condition | States |
|---|---|
| Law explicitly authorizes SSPs and exempts participants from state’s possession of drug paraphernalia or syringe laws. | California, Colorado, Connecticut,a Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois,a Massachusetts,a Maine,b Maryland, New Hampshire,b New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, Washingtonc |
| Does not have a paraphernalia law. | Alaska |
| Law does not prohibit simple possession of paraphernalia or syringes. | Michigan, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming |
| Paraphernalia law explicitly excludes objects used for injecting drugs. | Nevada, Oregon, Wisconsin |
| The definition of drug paraphernalia does not refer to objects used for injecting drugs. | Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Carolina |
| Possession allowed if syringe is unused and in a sealed sterile package. | Utah |
| Paraphernalia law provides immunity for persons who disclose possession of syringes to police officers prior to search. | Colorado, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee |
| No exemptions from paraphernalia law applicable to SSP participants. | Alabama, Arkansas,d Arizona, Georgia,d Idaho,d Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana,d Minnesota,d Mississippi, Missouri, Montana,d Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginiad |
| Law exempts residue in used syringe from crime of drug possession. | Colorado, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee |