San Francisco Mandates Disposal of Drugs

In a great show of leadership and common sense, San Francisco became the first city in the nation to mandate a drug-disposal program funded by drug companies.  Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who introduced the legislation said this program would “reduce accidental ingestion of drugs by children under the age of 6, limit teenagers’ access to painkillers and cut down on the suicide rate. Also, the program would combat the disposal of drugs down the toilet, increasing their chances of winding up in the Bay.”  Is this going to be the first of many to follow?  Read more....

The pharmaceutical companies fought mightily to oppose the legislation and it is still not a done deal – the current mayor could veto the bill but a new mayor may take over before he has a chance to do this.  According to Mirkarimi:   "They're bringing their blazing corporate guns and lobbying tactics on to little old San Francisco, just as they've done in other states, all because we're asking them to help pay for a bucket with a lid that's regulated, so that people can properly dispose of their pharmaceuticals," Mirkarimi says. "If that's such a big threat to them, then their arrogance speaks for itself."  Read more...