James G. Hodge, Jr.

Recently, a federal district court in Connecticut diverged from precedent to rule for an employee whose medical cannabis use resulted in a blatant rescission of a prospective job offer. According to the court in Noffsinger v. SSC Niantic Operating Co., d/b/a Bride Brook Nursing & Rehab. Ctr. (Bride Brook), Connecticut’s legal protections from discrimination for employees lawfully using medical cannabis are not barred by contrary federal legal provisions. The holding differs from prior state court decisions finding that employers generally have no duty to accommodate medical cannabis patients.

In June, the New York Court of Appeals upheld a New York City Health Code requiring annual flu vaccination for children who attend city-regulated child care or school-based programs -- a significant victory for public health.

An outbreak of hepatitis A—a viral liver disease associated with insufficient sanitation, hygiene, and clean water—illuminates systemic failures to meet the health needs of people experiencing homelessness (PEH). This Issue Brief examines the connection between inadequate access to public toilets, hand sinks, showers and laundry facilities and the disproportionate impact of the outbreak on PEH.

The U.S. is experiencing its worst outbreak of hepatitis A in over 20 years. The outbreak has primarily affected people experiencing homelessness (PEH) due to their lack of access to sanitation and hygiene facilities. In Los Angeles alone, one study found only nine public toilets for every 1,777 PEH. As a result, the city has initiated community and local government interventions designed to address this shortfall.

This Survey provides a brief overview of jurisdictions with statutory and regulatory provisions legalizing limited access medical marijuana programs to treat several medical conditions.

In the aftermath of the killing of 17 people and the injuring of 15 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School in Parkland, Florida, the Trump administration has considered advocating for various gun control measures, including strengthening of the national background check system (NICS) and a ban on bump-stocks (devices that fully automate semi-automatic weapons). There are additional evidence-based gun control measures that have demonstrated efficacy in preventing gun deaths and injuries in several states.

This resource provides a brief overview of laws and regulations related to sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) prevention in five states.

Supervised consumption spaces (SCS) provide safe spaces where persons can consume opioids under the supervision of licensed medical professionals. SCS have proven effective at reducing overdose deaths in those countries where they have been studied. In the U.S., SCS face legal challenges that statewide legal reforms (or in some cases, emergency declarations) seek to address.

The creation and enforcement of municipal laws criminalizing homelessness are escalating in U.S. cities. Much like the criminalization of HIV, the criminalization of homelessness creates additional barriers to housing, health care, employment and other basic human needs, perpetuating the cycle of homelessness and corresponding health inequities.

High rates of morbidity and mortality among Americans related to opioid use constitute a public health epidemic, leading multiple jurisdictions to declare formal states of emergency or public health emergency. Declaring a state of emergency grants states and localities additional resources to address the epidemic immediately.

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria have caused massive damage and displaced tens of thousands of people. Federal and state emergency declarations have been made to accelerate relief and recovery efforts through deployment of on-the ground personnel, supplies and health care to help those affected. This Primer provides a snapshot of current emergency declarations and what they authorize.

Despite overwhelming research in support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended vaccination schedule, some physicians continue to advise patients against following the schedule, and some voice their criticism of vaccinations publicly. Such criticism can contribute to lower vaccination rates, which in turn increases the risk for the spread of vaccine preventable diseases. But policy options to address this issue are problematic.