This week Republicans ran crazy with a release from the Democrats that 'suggested' a new program would provide funding for crack pipes to obvious drug users.
The program is called "harm reduction" and it's a $30 million federal grant...and part of a much larger Biden-sponsored billion-dollar Covid relief bill.
“The purpose of the program is to support community-based overdose prevention programs, syringe services programs, and other harm reduction services,” the grant said. “Funding will be used to enhance overdose and other types of prevention activities to help control the spread of infectious diseases and the consequences of such diseases for individuals with, or at risk of developing substance use disorders (SUD)…”
This is what the right said regards to 'pipe-gate:
“Biden is sending free meth and crack pipes to minority communities in the name of ‘racial equity,’” U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said. “There is no end in sight for this lunacy.”
“Last week, Biden talked about being tough on crime,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. “This week, the Biden Admin announced funds for crack pipe distribution to ‘advance racial equity.’”
The grant also allows federal funds to be use to purchase “safe sex kits, including PrEP resources and condoms.”
“I never in my life thought I would have to say this, but the proper role of government is not to fund the distribution of crack pipes,” U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., wrote on Twitter.
Media reports of the White House’s “crack pipe giveaway program" have been greatly exaggerated according to left...
Jen Psaki describes Fox News's hysteria over crack pipes as "inaccurate reporting" and says they were never part of a kit that's being distributed to addicts pic.twitter.com/1n7hM9V2lH
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 9, 2022
Snopes says this is NOT FALSE...but merely outdated:
This is a hilarious fact check that labels the reporting FALSE but then describes it as entirely true but "not important" https://t.co/E8ydlqKkr1
— Nellie Bowles (@NellieBowles) February 9, 2022
The right insists they merely got caught and changed horses (or moved to cigars...):
Good news. Biden's HHS is no longer funding crack pipes.
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) February 10, 2022
But make no mistake: yesterday's change in policy is because HHS got caught. pic.twitter.com/s7nW1mN3GS
What's the truth? I don't know and I mostly don't care.
Why? Because in most cases someone who is smoking crack is usually beyond help.
However, I still think we should help them.
Here's how and I'll make it plain as I can in nice boldy words....