Maryland has seen a long battle over OPC. Activists and public health experts have fought hard to get the legislature to act over the years, but OPC bills haven’t gained support as easily as other harm reduction efforts. For example, legislation to decriminalize drug “paraphernalia” cleared both chambers in the General Assembly, though it was vetoed by former Governor Larry Hogan ® in 2021 (a new bill is back on the table this legislative session).

The OPC bill does not mandate the creation of the sites, which Hettleman said could be a source of misunderstanding. Rather, it permits municipalities to work with community partners to introduce them, subject to approval from the state health department.

What may be most important this time around, Hettleman said, is that Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott (D), recently sworn in for his second term, named OPC as a “legislative priority” on the same day the bill was introduced.