• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Editor’s Picks
    • The power of teamwork
      Stay awake and alert on the job
      The worst rank in law enforcement
      Firearms maintenance
      Why fries need salt
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • Good Samaritan praised for freeing officer from chokehold in struggle...
        “We’re told nothing”: Chicago police officers work to assist...
        Multigenerational family of police officers honored for their service...
        Portland police reinstate traffic enforcement unit, but advocates...
        FBI data shows decrease in line-of-duty deaths, rise in officer...
    • Labor
      • Southern California police agencies continue to face staffing...
        Phoenix City Council approves new police union contract with pay...
        Los Angeles County sheriff requests funding for recruitment, equipment
        “It’s a scary time for Cleveland”: City attracts smallest...
        Portland State University rearms campus police officers
    • Tech
      • California sheriff’s department pays $1.1 million to cyber...
        Bay Area businesses embrace AI surveillance protection amid crime...
        California family tracks down and recovers stolen e-bike using Apple...
        Indianapolis law enforcement team up with legislators to fight...
        Peeling the onion
    • Training
      • Understanding privacy coins
        Unlock your potential
        Crisis intervention team training
        What’s the best way to train law enforcement leaders?
        Ohio police officer and father of autistic son launches autism...
    • Policy
      • Tennessee governor signs bill to fund school security months after...
        Washington state on brink of decriminalizing drug possession
        California AG launches investigation into Antioch police following...
        Back the Blue Act aims to enhance penalties for killing law...
        Alaska state troopers to be equipped with body cameras by end of year
    • Health/Wellness
      • Massachusetts police agencies receive grant to support mental health...
        Peacekeeper Initiative offers support and healing for retired police...
        Serenity in the saddle
        Worried about someone’s drinking?
        Thinking of pulling the pin on retirement?
    • Community
      • Washington nonprofit connects law enforcement and community through...
        A catastrophic threat
        A symbol of hope
        A legacy never forgotten
        High school students participate in job shadow day with New York...
    • Offbeat
      • Kansas burglary suspect uses ride-share app to escape while...
        A case of mistaken identity: Oklahoma police officers respond to...
        Kansas deputy pulls over man in Bud Light costume during DUI traffic...
        “Arrest them!”: Florida residents call 9-1-1 on two angry goats...
        Minnesota deputies detain escaped emu looking for love in all the...
    • We Remember
      • Honoring Fallen Heroes
        “Our hearts are broken once again”: Off-duty Chicago police...
        Choosing to serve
        A legacy of “service and sacrifice”: NYPD detective dies after...
        Philadelphia Phillies honor fallen Temple University police officer...
  • On the Job
    • Good Samaritan praised for freeing officer from chokehold in struggle...
      “We’re told nothing”: Chicago police officers work to assist...
      Multigenerational family of police officers honored for their service...
      Portland police reinstate traffic enforcement unit, but advocates...
      FBI data shows decrease in line-of-duty deaths, rise in officer...
  • Labor
    • Southern California police agencies continue to face staffing...
      Phoenix City Council approves new police union contract with pay...
      Los Angeles County sheriff requests funding for recruitment, equipment
      “It’s a scary time for Cleveland”: City attracts smallest...
      Portland State University rearms campus police officers
  • Tech
    • California sheriff’s department pays $1.1 million to cyber...
      Bay Area businesses embrace AI surveillance protection amid crime...
      California family tracks down and recovers stolen e-bike using Apple...
      Indianapolis law enforcement team up with legislators to fight...
      Peeling the onion
  • Training
    • Understanding privacy coins
      Unlock your potential
      Crisis intervention team training
      What’s the best way to train law enforcement leaders?
      Ohio police officer and father of autistic son launches autism...
  • Policy
    • Tennessee governor signs bill to fund school security months after...
      Washington state on brink of decriminalizing drug possession
      California AG launches investigation into Antioch police following...
      Back the Blue Act aims to enhance penalties for killing law...
      Alaska state troopers to be equipped with body cameras by end of year
  • Health/Wellness
    • Massachusetts police agencies receive grant to support mental health...
      Peacekeeper Initiative offers support and healing for retired police...
      Serenity in the saddle
      Worried about someone’s drinking?
      Thinking of pulling the pin on retirement?
  • Community
    • Washington nonprofit connects law enforcement and community through...
      A catastrophic threat
      A symbol of hope
      A legacy never forgotten
      High school students participate in job shadow day with New York...
  • Offbeat
    • Kansas burglary suspect uses ride-share app to escape while...
      A case of mistaken identity: Oklahoma police officers respond to...
      Kansas deputy pulls over man in Bud Light costume during DUI traffic...
      “Arrest them!”: Florida residents call 9-1-1 on two angry goats...
      Minnesota deputies detain escaped emu looking for love in all the...
  • We Remember
    • Honoring Fallen Heroes
      “Our hearts are broken once again”: Off-duty Chicago police...
      Choosing to serve
      A legacy of “service and sacrifice”: NYPD detective dies after...
      Philadelphia Phillies honor fallen Temple University police officer...
  • Between the Lines
    • The unspoken truth behind the recruitment and retention crisis
      The police reform goal: use of force without options
      The imprisonment of law enforcement technology
      Persecution of the LEO is classic schadenfreude
      The rule of law is worthless without order
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

Policy

Washington state on brink of decriminalizing drug possession

APB Team Published May 24, 2023 @ 12:00 pm PDT

iStock.com/MachineHeadz

Washington state could soon become the second state in the country to decriminalize possession of drugs if lawmakers reject a proposed drug policy bill for a second time.

The bill, which was voted down, 55–43, in April, would have kept criminal penalties in place for possession of drugs like fentanyl, while also incentivizing drug addiction treatment and offering access to rehab programs.

Under the bill, possession would have been classed as a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and eliminated a requirement that police refer an individual to evaluation or treatment for their first two offenses.

The bill also included funding for drug crisis centers and boosted access to withdrawal medication in jails and prisons.

In response to the bill’s shutdown, Governor Jay Inslee called a special legislative session for May 16 to give legislators a second chance to approve it.

“Cities and counties are eager to see a statewide policy that balances accountability and treatment, and I believe we can produce a bipartisan bill that does just that,” Inslee said.

While a temporary law that makes possession of small amounts of drugs a misdemeanor is still in place, it is set to expire on July 1. Thus, if lawmakers fail to pass the new bill, Washington would become the second state after Oregon to decriminalize drug possession, which could undermine efforts to treat addiction as a public health issue.

The goal was to craft a new bill to replace the temporary provision, but lawmakers have been ambivalent to the proposal.

Republicans and Democrats who supported the bill said that criminalizing drug possession incentivizes users to seek treatment. However, some Republicans still objected that the bill did not do enough to ensure accountability for offenders.

“I want these people to get better,” said Representative Greg Chene on the floor last month. “But not requiring them to acknowledge they have a problem is not the right path to go.”

Meanwhile, many Democrats were opposed to making drug possession a crime at all.

Representative Tarra Simmons, who spent time in jail on drug charges before becoming a lawyer, rejected the bill, saying, “It was really hard for me not to vote for all the good things in that bill. But we don’t need to cause people more pain in order to help them.”

In light of the impending statewide decriminalization of drug possession, local officials in cities across the state are creating their own legislation to address drug use.

For example, Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison and two Seattle City Council members recently announced a proposal to make public drug use a misdemeanor crime.

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn proposed similar legislation, while officials in Sultan, Everett and Snohomish County are looking to do the same.

Washington state continues to grapple with rising overdose deaths due to fentanyl and other drugs over the past few years.

According to a study conducted last year by QuoteWizard, the state ranked fifth in the nation with 2,500 overdose fatalities.

iStock.com/MachineHeadz

Categories: Policy Tags: drug possession, Washington State, fentanyl, addiction, drug policy, treatment center, legislation, bill, Jay Inslee, misdemeanor

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • Washington nonprofit connects law enforcement and community through acts of kindness
  • Good Samaritan praised for freeing officer from chokehold in struggle at New Jersey mall
  • “We’re told nothing”: Chicago police officers work to assist refugees amidst migrant crisis without help from city
  • Multigenerational family of police officers honored for their service by Denver Police Museum
  • Massachusetts police agencies receive grant to support mental health and stress management programs
  • Tennessee governor signs bill to fund school security months after deadly Nashville mass shooting
  • Southern California police agencies continue to face staffing shortages amid national reckoning on policing
  • Portland police reinstate traffic enforcement unit, but advocates continue push for more speed cameras
  • Kansas burglary suspect uses ride-share app to escape while surrounded by officers
  • A case of mistaken identity: Oklahoma police officers respond to cries for help from what turns out to be a bleating goat

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

The power of teamwork

The power of teamwork

July 23, 2021

Stay awake and alert on the job

Stay awake and alert on the job

July 20, 2021

The worst rank in law enforcement

The worst rank in law enforcement

July 19, 2021

Firearms maintenance

Firearms maintenance

July 04, 2021

Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Options | Notice at Collection | Copyright © 2023 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close

Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.