Seattle's Drug Policy Faces Criticism and Rejection from City Council.
The Downtown Seattle Association and Seattle Chamber of Commerce have criticized Seattle City Council member Andrew Lewis for rejecting a new drug possession law. Lewis had previously been endorsed by the Downtown Seattle Association, but the group has since distanced itself from him. Lewis cited concerns about the elimination of community court and the need for a full vetting of the proposal and financial impacts as reasons for his vote. Proponents argue that without a written enforcement code, it would deter police from arresting anyone for dealing or using hard drugs in public and in theory, decriminalizing drugs in Seattle.