Washington Initiative 685, Schedule I Drugs Decriminalization Measure (1997)

Washington Initiative 685
Election date November 4, 1997
Topic Law enforcement and Marijuana laws
Status Defeated
Type Initiated state statute	Origin Citizens

Washington Initiative 685 was on the ballot as an initiated state statute in Washington on November 4, 1997. It was defeated.

A “yes” vote supported decriminalizing and permitting medical use of Schedule 1 controlled substances and establishing a drug prevention committee.

A “no” vote opposed decriminalizing and permitting medical use of Schedule 1 controlled substances and establishing a drug prevention committee.

Election results

Washington Initiative 685
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		659,244	39.57%
No		1,006,964	60.43%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Initiative 685 was as follows:

“

Shall penalties for drug possession and drug-related violent crime be revised, medical use of Schedule I controlled substances be permitted, and a drug prevention commission established?

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Washington

In Washington, proponents needed to collect a number of signatures for an Initiative to the People.

See also

1997 Measures

• 1997 Measures
• Law enforcement on the ballot
• Marijuana laws on the ballot
• 1997 legislative sessions

Washington

• Washington ballot measures
• Washington ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Washington Voter Guide (1997)