I live in Washington state. When the state got into trying to use the excuse of unknowledgeable possession they opened up Pandora’s box. It is not illegal to possess drugs like morphine or fentanyl, it is illegal to deliver or make it for delivery to other persons.
According to RCW §69.50.401, possession with intent to deliver of any form of a controlled substance included in the statute’s Schedule I or II and classified as a narcotic, is considered a class B felony and upon conviction may be imprisoned for a maximum of ten years, fined, or both. So if it can’t be delivered legally, then how can it be possessed unless it’s a doctor’s prescription? And any prescription drug is legal to be possessed not to be delivered to other persons. Kind of a catch 22.
wy69
Blake Decision Senate Bill 5536: Lawmakers voted to amend current drug possession laws by increasing the penalty for possession of controlled substances to a gross misdemeanor. The bill also expands access to substance use disorder treatment, which if completed, can lead to a vacation of a conviction for possession. Those who refuse treatment can be sanctioned with jail time. Senate Democrats said the bill “permanently addresses” the 2021 Washington Supreme Court Blake Decision that removed any criminal penalties for possession. Lawmakers voted that same year to penalize possession charges with a misdemeanor, but that law will expire July 1, 2023. Introduced by Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, the proposed legislation passed with just 7 votes, for a total of 28-21. Emotional debate on the bill continued late into Friday with 15 Democrats voting against the measure, and several Republicans voting in support of the bill.Read more at: https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/state/washington/article272715805.html#storylink=cpy