Snohomish County Therapeutic Courts celebrates 25 years of adult recovery
EVERETT—DJ Rivera, brother to Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Whitney Rivera, had a normal childhood growing up, but when his father passed away around his seventeenth birthday he turned to drugs and alcohol. His life quickly spun out of control until it culminated with being arrested on December 8, 2005, for a controlled substance. Instead […]
Tulalip Tribes supports new legislation allowing prosecution of drug-related crimes
TULALIP—The Tulalip Tribes’ headquarters resounded with thanks on Tuesday, August 6, directed toward Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) for introducing in the US House of Representatives the PROTECT Act—Protection for Reservation Occupants against Trafficking and Evasive Communications Today—which, if passed, will give Tribal courts and law enforcement the ability to prosecute drug-related crimes for the first […]
Those convicted of a drug crime in Snohomish County urged to seek Blake relief
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., May 26, 2023—State v. Blake is a 2021 Washington State Supreme Court decision that held that the drug possession law was unconstitutional. If you were convicted of soliciting possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, or certain other drug related misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor offenses in Snohomish County District Court you […]
Mayors across Snohomish County support recriminalizing illegal drugs
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., May 6, 2023—Fifteen mayors represented by the Mayors and Business Leaders for Public Safety coalition, join forces in a letter urging the Snohomish County Council to pass proposed Ordinance 23-046 to recriminalize controlled and counterfeit substances. “Currently, cites in Snohomish County and across Washington state are looking to enact laws governing the possession […]
Inslee announces Special Session, County leadership split on illegal drug policy
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., May 3, 2023—Hours after Snohomish County led the state in proposing an ordinance to recriminalize illegal drugs after the failure of legislature’s passage of the “Blake fix,” Governor Jay Inslee announced that he will call a special session to begin on May 16 that will focus on passing a new drug possession […]
County to consider scheduling a Public Hearing on ordinance to re-criminalize illegal drugs
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., May 1, 2023—At its upcoming Administrative Meeting on Tuesday, May 2, the Snohomish County Council is expected to vote on scheduling a Public Hearing for May 17 to propose an ordinance re-criminalizing controlled and counterfeit substances. To view the meeting’s agenda, click here. The ordinance, sponsored by Council President Jared Mead and […]
Public drug use in Lynnwood now a misdemeanor
LYNNWOOD, Wash., February 16, 2023—The Lynnwood City Council passed two of the ordinances requested by the police department during their business meeting on Monday, February 13th. Both of the ordinances passed with six votes in favor and Councilmember Josh Binda abstaining. The first of these measures makes the use of dangerous drugs in public a […]
Lynnwood City Council discusses criminalizing open-air drug use
LYNNWOOD, Wash., February 8, 2023—Law enforcement measures and public waste management made up the majority of the Lynnwood City Council work session on February 6th. A proposed ordinance, presented by Lynnwood Chief of Police Jim Nelson, would “make the use of dangerous drugs in public enforceable as a misdemeanor.” “So what does this mean? It […]
North Snohomish County opens first inpatient drug and alcohol recovery center
ARLINGTON, Wash., December 11, 2021 – Holman Recovery Center, North Snohomish County’s first inpatient drug and alcohol treatment center, is set to open next month, January 2022, signifying a fresh start to the year and a new avenue for substance abuse treatment throughout the county. Located at 16415 Smokey Point Boulevard in Arlington, the new […]
Bill to decriminalize hard drugs passes Senate, moves to House for vote
With a bipartisan vote of 28-20, SB 5476, the bill to decriminalize hard drugs, passed the Washington state Senate last Thursday, April 15, and will now head to the House. A public hearing is scheduled in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 a.m. Monday morning. SB 5476 would make Washington state the second state […]
