WA Senate OKs bill to reinstate durg possession penalties

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state Senate on Thursday approved a bill that would reinstate criminal penalties for drug possession. The Seattle Times reports that lawmakers approved Senate Bill 5476, in response to the state Supreme Court’s February ruling that struck down Washington’s felony possession law. The version that passed Thursday brings back criminal penalties for possession. But instead of a felony, those instances would now be treated as a gross misdemeanor. The bill passed on a vote of 28 to 20, with a rare mix of Democrats and Republicans voting on either side.