Safe Injection Sites Can't Be Banned By Initiative: Supreme Court

SEATTLE, WA - Safe-use sites cannot be banned through the citizen initiative process in King County, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday. In 2017, group called Safe King County tried to mount an initiative to ban safe-use sites, but they were sued by a group called Protect Public Health.

The Supreme Court upheld a King County Superior Court's judge ruling, saying Safe Seattle's initiative "improperly interferes with the budgetary authority of the King County Council."

Safe-use sites, also called community health engagement locations (CHEL), have been recommended as a partial solution to the opioid crisis. A King County panel almost two years ago recommended opening two CHELs in King County - one in Seattle, one in another part of the county.

No CHELs have opened. The one planned for Seattle was dealt a setback over the summer. City officials said they were unable to find a fixed location for a CHEL, so they were focusing on creating a mobile site.

Cities around the county - Kent, Renton, Bellevue, Federal Way - have enacted local bans on CHELs. If ever built, the sites could be used to use any drug. Drug users would be supervised by medical professionals and have access to clean accessories like needles. The CHELs would also provide access to treatment options.

King County Councilwoman Jean Kohl-Welles hailed the ruling. Her nephew died at age 26 two years ago from a heroin overdose.

"Safe injection sites have the potential to change the trajectory of a person’s life. I only wish my young nephew had access to one before he died," she said.

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