Just days after a voter-approved bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs went into effect in Oregon, legislators in Washington have introduced a bill that would similarly decriminalize personal use of drugs.
Sponsored by Reps. Lauren Davis and Kirsten Harris-Talley, House Bill 1499, also known as the Pathways to Recovery Act, would legalize “personal use amounts” of substances such as heroin and cocaine while also expanding the state’s intervention, treatment and recovery services.
In a news conference announcing the bill, Davis spoke to how those experiencing substance abuse disorder “deserve help, not handcuffs” and emphasized that the current system does not fund adequate outreach and recovery services.
“People
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