SEATTLE - Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell officially signed a new ordinance on public drug use on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the city council approved the contentious bill.
The law begins in 30 days, allowing the city attorney’s office to prosecute cases of open drug use and possession.
"Hopefully, what we’ll see in 30 days is a unified and coordinated response balancing the need for a health approach, a compassionate approach and making lawful, constitutional arrests when necessary," said Harrell.
Harrell toured an Evergreen Treatment Services facility on Wednesday with city attorney Ann Davison. While at the facility, the mayor said he planned to publicly issue his executive order within a week. The order will address the law’s enforcement, and provide guidance to Seattle police officers when they’re responding to open drug possession and use.
