Political leaders look to be hesitant about doing anything about the legislation that decriminalizes drug use. The city of Seattle missed its deadline to address it. None action means there will be no new drug possession law immediately. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell talked about a proposal to enforce the new state gross misdemeanor law as he also mentioned $20 million for diversion programs.
The council is saying it will take up the issue on Sept. 12. The proposal would take effect 30 days after being signed by the mayor. Monday, Aug. 14 marked the last day before a state law on drug possession and public drug use would take effect. That means drug use cases will not be prosecuted.
The Seattle Medium reported on Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed drug use ordinance to the city council back in July. That came about after council members shot down adopting the new state law. The Mayor’s proposed new ordinance would make drug use a gross misdemeanor with a treatment-based approach.
Evergreen Treatment Services spoke out at the council meeting and opposed Harrell’s proposed ordinance for criminalizing drug use. Police can still make arrests, but the Seattle Police Officers Guild argues that, in King County, officers can’t book people in jail for misdemeanors due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“This is a defining point in our city’s history and that’s the importance of doing it right. It can redefine how we go about treating this epidemic, treating the issues of public safety and fentanyl and opioid methamphetamine use,” said Harrell.
It has been reported that the new state law would require the Seattle Attorney’s Office to take the drug cases, but without a city ordinance, they can’t touch prosecute them. In a statement, Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison said, in part, that the office “must wait until 30 days after the mayor signs the legislation to act on those cases.”
