March 2023 Bar Bulletin
Chris:
Washington lawmakers are starting the process of re-making drug possession laws in the wake of the Washington Supreme Court’s striking the state’s drug possession statute as unconstitutional in early 2021. Senate Bill 5536 (https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5536&Year=2023s) is the current leading contender along with Senate Bill 5467 (https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary
?year=2023&billnumber=5467), proposed by Senator Jesse Salomon.
SB 5536 is too “loosey goosey,” as it leaves it to the judge to figure out what to do with folks who don’t comply with treatment option (but who could have gotten the charges dismissed and removed from their record if they complied). By contrast, SB 5467 provides a specific sanction: In the event a person sentenced to...