State Representative
Sherry Appleton has filed House Bill 1024, a proposal to remove felony charges for the personal possession of illegal substances, reducing the charge to a simple (non-gross) misdemeanor. According to an official state fiscal note on defelonizing personal drug possession, the proposal would save the state millions of dollars every year, would free up prison space and would prevent over 9,000 drug-related felonies from occurring each year (charges involving distribution or manufacturing drugs, and any charge involving minors, would remain unaltered).
Defelonizing personal drug possession in Washington State is supported by Law Enforcement Against Prohibition – a coalition of thousands of current and former law enforcement professionals – as well as Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Washington CURE and the ACLU of Washington. The proposal was introduced by the nonprofit organization Sensible Washington.