The Seattle Police Department (SPD) said they will no longer arrest people for simple drug possession after a landmark Washington Supreme Court decision.
The Thursday (February 25) ruling aimed to stop the arrest of people who didn't know they had illicit drugs on them, according to MyNorthwest. SPD officials said that having drugs “cannot be used as a legal basis to seize an individual.” Officers will no longer confiscate drugs from individuals, as well, according to MyNorthwest.
“This ruling does not impact any other charges that may be evident to officers during an encounter,” police explained. “This ruling also does not limit officers’ ability to conduct investigations involving other illegal drug activity. However, officers must have reasonable suspicion or probable cause to investigate those other crimes.”
Prior to the Thursday ruling, simple drug possession was a felony in the Evergreen State. Offenders could face up to five years in prison.
Justices pointed to the example of Shannon Blake, a Spokane woman who was charged with possession of a controlled substance. Back in 2016, Blake was reportedly booked in connection to three stolen vehicles, but a corrections officer found a small bag of methamphetamine in her jeans. The Spokane woman claimed she had never used meth, bought the jeans from a friend and had no idea about the drugs.
"Advocates believe that there could potentially be 'thousands upon thousands' of possession convictions that could be retroactively thrown out, including Blake’s," according to reporters.
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