By Grayson Quay The Week

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday that the Biden administration “never” intended for federal funds to be spent on pipes for drug use, The Associated Press reported.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Dr. Rahul Gupta also released a statement asserting that “no federal funding will be used directly or through subsequent reimbursement of grantees to put pipes in safe smoking kits.”

The clarification came after several right-leaning outlets reported this week that the Biden administration was “funding crack pipe distribution.”

The stories referred to the administration’s 2022 Harm Reduction Program Grant, which was issued by HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Grant documents showed a long list of “harm reduction activities” toward which municipalities and nonprofits could direct grant funds, and that list included “safe smoking kits.”

READ MORE