Bill decriminalizing drug test strips in opioid-devastated West Virginia heads to governor

By LEAH WILLINGHAM
Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A bill that would decriminalize all strips used to test drugs for deadly substances now goes to West Virginia’s governor. Republican Jim Justice hasn’t said publicly whether he supports the bill, which has received bipartisan support in the state with the nation’s highest overdose rate. Justice already signed a 2022 law that decriminalized fentanyl testing strips. Republican Deputy House Speaker Matthew Rohrbach says the purpose of this bill is to ensure that all drug test strips will be available to people who need them, without lawmakers having to pass new legislation every time a new one is developed.