Drug possession bill voted down last-minute, possibly shifting enforcement power from state to local

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

A last-minute rejection of a compromise inside the State Capitol stunned Washington leaders Sunday night: a contentious senate bill on drug possession misfired in the House, even after intense negotiations.

"We cannot accept decriminalization in the middle of a fentanyl crisis," said Governor Jay Inslee, D-Washington.

Previously in the day, Inslee expressed encouragement and optimism about the legislature passing Senate Bill 5536, which had been intensely negotiated to serve the interests of legislators pushing for a combination of both treatment and punishment.

In a 43 to 55, House lawmakers voted it down Sunday night with only a handful of hours left in the legislative session.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/drug-possession-bill-voted-down-last-minute-possibly-shifting-enforcement-power-from-state-to-local/ar-AA1agh4L

[Blues Heron]

1. the best thing for the fentanyl crisis would be to decrim

then people could get safer opioids. The more you criminalize, the worse the quality of the drugs and the more danger you create.

Fentanyl is a direct result of criminalization. People just want pain killers, they dont want to die under a bridge because all the options except fentanyl have been criminalized away.

[hippywife]

3. That horse has already left the barn.

The only way for people to get safe opioids now, is from a physician, many of whom either no longer prescribe them or are very strict about it.

Anything on the street will now always be a danger.

[Blues Heron]

4. decriminalization opens the doors to things like testing, to see what one bought

If you know what you have, and how strong it is, it all becomes safer. Knowledge is power and those kind of testing programs can exist more easily in a decrim regime.

You are right about fentanyl being here to stay.


Nice to see you hippywife! Hope your day is going well!

[hippywife]

5. There have been movements by some states...

to legalize test strips, which can be done without decriminalization, yet they're still having trouble getting that pushed through. Not that I agree with the war on drugs, but this epidemic has gotten way out of hand and I don't think decriminalization is going to fly.

Hey, BH.

[ShazamIam]

2. It is good to read that a state is trying to shift away from the failed policies of the past.nt

G

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

6. A failed vote is not a victory

The no vote was unanimous among the GOP. Some 15 Democrats joined them but for different reasons.

[ShazamIam]

7. I say we have a different view, it is a victory to be considering changes to the existing laws.nt