HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the city of Wichita removing fentanyl test strips from its definition of drug paraphernalia, local advocates for harm reduction are watching how state officials react closely.
Seth Dewey, substance abuse health educator at the Reno County Health Department told Hutch Post in an email this week that since it is still state law, the Attorney General's office could still decide to enforce the law as written if they want to make that choice.
Even if Hutchinson decided in the coming months to pursue a similar policy, it is likely that it would take ongoing efforts of volunteer organizations to continue to distribute test strips.
The grant funding for the Health Department does not allow for such distribution, since the strips are still technically illegal. They also would not be able to use public money to promote the distribution for the same reason.
Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper has previously said that he will not pursue arrest of possessors of fentanyl test strips in the city.