Washington legislators are back at work in Olympia starting this week to pound out a new state drug possession law.

Gov. Jay Inslee called the special session after failed attempts during the regular legislative session to reach a compromise on overhauling how Washington handles drug possession, substance abuse, and addiction. A 2021 Washington Supreme Court ruling struck down the state’s felony drug possession statute.

Last year, the legislature passed a stopgap measure, set to expire in July, which re-criminalized the behavior with an eye to a permanent fix this year.

The attempt at a statewide compromise comes as cities including Seattle are considering cracking down on public drug use and possession. Just how severely those crimes should be treated is at the core of the debate, KUOW reports:

In fact, dozens of cities are considering new bans on possession or public use of illegal drugs. A key question — for cities and towns as well as state lawmakers — is whether such offenses should be a misdemeanor or a gross misdemeanor. Misdemeanors can mean up to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail. Gross misdemeanors can receive up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Increased spending on services and treatment is also in the works with more than $600 million in new statewide funding for treatment facilities and other behavioral health services in Inslee’s budget.

Legislators now have 30 days to finalize a compromise — or leave solutions to the rush of local laws waiting in the wings.

UPDATE: That was fast. The legislature passed a compromise that defines drug possession in Washington as a gross misdemeanor, giving the state a harder stance on drug law penalties. Gross misdemeanors can receive up to near a year in jail and fines up to $5,000.

Gov. Jay Inslee applauded the compromise and quickly signed the bill.

The ACLU called the bill “a huge step backwards in Washington’s fight against the ever-growing public health crises of substance use disorder and the opioid overdose epidemic.”

“We cannot punish people into recovery,” the ACLU’s Alison Holcomb said in a statement. “ACLU-WA remains staunchly in support of treating public health problems with public health solutions and will continue this work with our community partners and directly impacted people.”

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