Eddie Krumpotich

That's what we define as residue for drugs. So what we decided to do is we said, okay, wait a second. If we want people to use safely and the science says that paraphernalia should be legalized, the reason was is we wanted to lower infectious diseases. We wanted to bring people to syringe service providers. And so we said all paraphernalia

That's what we define as residue for drugs. So what we decided to do is we said, okay, wait a second. If we want people to use safely and the science says that paraphernalia should be legalized, the reason was is we wanted to lower infectious diseases. We wanted to bring people to syringe service providers. And so we said all paraphernalia

no matter what it is, is going to be legal because we didn't want to put stigma on one form or the other. And since we did that, we've seen a transition over to smoking. And so why is that a big deal? Because without legislative handicaps or without barriers,

no matter what it is, is going to be legal because we didn't want to put stigma on one form or the other. And since we did that, we've seen a transition over to smoking. And so why is that a big deal? Because without legislative handicaps or without barriers,

What we've now done is transition from the highest rate of infection, which is the syringe, to smoking, which has a drastically lower rates of infection and also the curbing of drug use. So we wanted to lower stigma. We wanted to make sure that people knew that using substances was neither bad nor good, but it happened.

What we've now done is transition from the highest rate of infection, which is the syringe, to smoking, which has a drastically lower rates of infection and also the curbing of drug use. So we wanted to lower stigma. We wanted to make sure that people knew that using substances was neither bad nor good, but it happened.

And the paraphernalia, things like syringes, using smokables, for example, to smoke your substances, ways to inject cottons, tins, cookers, things like that.

And the paraphernalia, things like syringes, using smokables, for example, to smoke your substances, ways to inject cottons, tins, cookers, things like that.

Well, I'll make it pretty simple. So prohibition in the late 19-teens, Woodrow Wilson's in office, they they get rid of alcohol they wanted to and see if this relates they wanted to remove the scourge of society so they get rid of alcohol in one decade What happened? We had the development of organized crime, gangsters, mobsters, crime went up. We knew that there was a problem.

Well, I'll make it pretty simple. So prohibition in the late 19-teens, Woodrow Wilson's in office, they they get rid of alcohol they wanted to and see if this relates they wanted to remove the scourge of society so they get rid of alcohol in one decade What happened? We had the development of organized crime, gangsters, mobsters, crime went up. We knew that there was a problem.

So the United States said, wow, that's an issue. And they looked back and they go, hmm, we better legalize alcohol again. So they got rid of that. Let's go to the Nixon administration. Nixon decides to do the same thing with drugs. And we saw organized crime, gangsters, mobs, the exact same result. There was no difference, except now our system has lasted almost three generations.

So the United States said, wow, that's an issue. And they looked back and they go, hmm, we better legalize alcohol again. So they got rid of that. Let's go to the Nixon administration. Nixon decides to do the same thing with drugs. And we saw organized crime, gangsters, mobs, the exact same result. There was no difference, except now our system has lasted almost three generations.

We have this is a racist first type policy, which we know has affected so many people in our urban communities, urban and rural communities. And so not only does it not enable drug use, it makes things drastically worse. So we increase people's time in jail where they have a 27 times higher likelihood of dying if released from jail without referral networks and naloxone.

We have this is a racist first type policy, which we know has affected so many people in our urban communities, urban and rural communities. And so not only does it not enable drug use, it makes things drastically worse. So we increase people's time in jail where they have a 27 times higher likelihood of dying if released from jail without referral networks and naloxone.

We have done a poor job of meeting the science where it's at. And the easiest way to transition that is goes, wow, the same exact thing happened during alcohol that's happening right now.

We have done a poor job of meeting the science where it's at. And the easiest way to transition that is goes, wow, the same exact thing happened during alcohol that's happening right now.

Yeah, Pearl, you nailed that. Thank you. Pearl's been a member of the collaborative since the very beginning, and we could not have done it without her. So the law was rather simple. We wanted to legitimize syringe service providers. We know that if you visit a syringe service provider, 50% reduction in infectious diseases. Police are relatively supportive. Also increase in treatment.

Yeah, Pearl, you nailed that. Thank you. Pearl's been a member of the collaborative since the very beginning, and we could not have done it without her. So the law was rather simple. We wanted to legitimize syringe service providers. We know that if you visit a syringe service provider, 50% reduction in infectious diseases. Police are relatively supportive. Also increase in treatment.

But then we saw further opportunity. When we were talking with Dr. Tricolas at the pharmacy board, we knew that those programs many times don't exist in rural Minnesota. So we got rid of the syringe number that could be dispersed by pharmacists. We wanted Minnesota pharmacists to be able to disperse as many syringes as necessary to meet the community needs. Then we went further than that.

But then we saw further opportunity. When we were talking with Dr. Tricolas at the pharmacy board, we knew that those programs many times don't exist in rural Minnesota. So we got rid of the syringe number that could be dispersed by pharmacists. We wanted Minnesota pharmacists to be able to disperse as many syringes as necessary to meet the community needs. Then we went further than that.