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Two million dollars worth of drugs confiscated by Renton Police in February 2023 drug trafficking arrest. (RPD photo)
With both the Renton City Council and Washington State Legislature poised to discuss new drug laws next week, action on this important topic could become confusing for residents.
The Legislature is convening in a special session which is essentially a do-over after they failed to act in April, effectively decriminalizing possession of all hard drugs in our state as of July 1st– including fentanyl, meth, cocaine, stolen prescription drugs and other highly addictive substances. Meanwhile, Renton City Council is working on a city ordinance to make possession of these drugs illegal, and public use of drugs even more illegal, because of the Legislature’s failure to enact legislation the last time.
The Legislature is expected to pick up where they left off with Senate Bill 5536, which still had a number of areas of disagreement in it.
A few days ago, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) published a letter which itemized their standing disagreements with SB 5536 as it reads today.
Among their concerns are inadequate legal definition of “public drug use,” calling drug paraphernalia “public health supplies,” overriding of city regulations regarding drug paraphernalia, and blurring of roles of judges and prosecutors in diversion-into-treatment decisions. They also would like to see the establishment of professional standards for those who make pretrial substance use assessments for the court, and holding drug users diverted into treatment accountable for completing their treatment. I have posted the complete WASPC letter here.
The WASPC letter highlights areas that will be heavily debated in the Legislature. Given the Legislature’s posturing and deadlocking on these issues in the past, I personally have greater confidence in Renton City Council than the State Legislature to find their way through these important issues, although even a council approval is not a sure bet. I spoke with Mayor Pavone yesterday, and I know he and his staff are working to ensure the proposed city ordinance addresses the WASPC concerns along with many other concerns by residents, businesses, and the families of those who are substance abusers.
This is an important time to contact Renton City Council about your concerns about the drug ordinance. Send your emails to council@rentonwa.gov. As always, please feel free to share your opinions (and perhaps your emails to council) in the comment section on this blog.
Who’s a good dog?
Ruff!
While someone may get “hassled” for using legal drug paraphernalia, there is definitely no need for illegal drug usage and items required to use them and such items should be illegal.
The only time anybody will get hassled for using drug paraphernalia is when they use drugs public around people who don’t want it. Like at a playground.
I’m ok with that.