In the face of a looming expiration of a temporary law that makes possession of small amounts of drugs a misdemeanor, Washington state legislators failed to reach an agreement on the new statewide drug policy. With the temporary law expiring on July 1, the failure to pass a new bill may lead to Washington becoming the second state, after neighbouring Oregon, to decriminalize drug possession. Washington Governor Jay Inslee has since called lawmakers back to work to avoid such an outcome.
The lawmakers’ efforts were focused on finding a compromise between criminalizing drug possession and offering services to those struggling with addiction. The proposed bill sought to increase penalties by making intentional drug possession a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. It also sought to eliminate the requirement that police refer two first offenses for treatment while funding drug crisis centers and expanding access to withdrawal medication in jails and prisons.
Despite the urgent need to address the rampant public drug use and the surge in drug-related deaths in cities across Washington, lawmakers failed to pass the bill. Democratic and Republican lawmakers have agreed on the need to provide services to those struggling with addiction but disagree on the approach. Some lawmakers have no intention of returning to the punitive approach of the war on drugs, while others oppose harsher penalties, arguing that they would not resolve drug-related issues.
The bill’s failure to pass has led lawmakers to consider other solutions, including leaving drug possession laws to local governments, a move many cities have already implemented. Marysville, Washington, recently passed a law making public drug use a misdemeanor and has already made 40 arrests under this ordinance. Mayor Jon Nehring welcomed a statewide solution to addiction but suggested that local ordinances could provide a temporary solution.
Meanwhile, Massachusetts lawmakers have introduced bills to decriminalize possession of drugs and study the legalization of certain psychedelics. The proposed legislation targets low-level drug offenders, who are often Black and Latino, and aims to correct racial inequities in drug enforcement.
The failure to pass a new statewide drug policy presents a significant risk for Washington and may undermine ongoing efforts to address addiction as a public health issue. As lawmakers work to find common ground in addressing drug-related issues, Governor Jay Inslee’s call for a special session offers an opportunity to avoid decriminalizing drug possession in Washington.
In conclusion, the failure to pass a bill setting out a new statewide drug policy in Washington state may lead to the decriminalization of drug possession, with its temporary law expiring on July 1. Lawmakers must find common ground and address drug-related issues as a public health matter to avoid leaving drug possession laws to local governments.
