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‘Cataclysmic’ decision striking down strict liability drug law puts past convictions at risk in this state

March 15, 2021

Years of convictions could be at risk following a Washington Supreme Court decision that struck down the state’s felony drug possession law.

The state supreme court ruled Feb. 25 that the state’s strict liability law is unconstitutional because it doesn’t require proof that a defendant knew that they possessed a controlled substance.

The Seattle Times, KIRO 7 News and Crosscut have coverage.

The court ruled in the case of Shannon Blake, who said she did not know that there was methamphetamine in the coin pocket of her jeans. Blake said a friend bought the jeans at a secondhand store and gave them to her two days before her arrest.

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