Washington State could see a decriminalization measure on November's ballot, and a new study tells us that the many voters are already on board. Initiative 1922 would decriminalize possession, removing penalties and instead opting for a harm-reduction model.
Washington State could see a decriminalization measure on November's ballot, and a new study tells us that many voters are already on board. Initiative 1922 would decriminalize possession, removing penalties and opting for a harm-reduction model. The state would direct more than $140 million toward outreach, treatment, and recovery services if passed.
Voters likely recognize that the state has done little to combat addiction and instead punished those caught in possession, which furthers the poverty cycle for many who need outreach services. FM3 Research has conducted many polls to determine voters' attitudes, and the most recent round revealed that 46% of respondents would "definitely" or "probably" vote for the initiative based on its ballot summary, and 37% would "definitely" or "probably" vote against it. The remaining 17% were undecided, but 6% of those leaned towards yes.
This move mimics an Oregon measure that passed in 2020. ACLU of Washington has backed a coalition, Commit to Change WA, which has raised over $1.5 million to support the initiative. They need to gather 324,516 signatures by July 8th for the measure to qualify for November's ballot.
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