Drug possession measure passes Seattle City Council committee

The Seattle City Council will vote in the coming weeks on a new drug ordinance that codifies a recent Washington state drug possession law.

The vote comes after the measure, which targets public drug possession and use, passed the council's public safety committee Tuesday in a 4-1 vote. Councilmembers Andrew Lewis, Lisa Herbold, Alex Pedersen and Sara Nelson voted to pass the measure out of committee. Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda voted no.

The proposal is similar to a failed ordinance from June. Both attempt to address a 2021 Washington State Supreme Court's ruling in State v. Blake, which struck down the state's felony drug possession law.

In May, the state Legislature held a special session to pass a law to make drug possession and use gross misdemeanors, replacing a stopgap possession law.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2023/09/12/seattle-city-council-drug-ordinance.html