RCW 69.50.315
Medical assistance—Drug-related overdose—Prosecution for possession.
(1) A person acting in good faith who seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug-related overdose shall not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance pursuant to RCW 69.50.4013, or penalized under RCW 69.50.4014, if the evidence for the charge of possession of a controlled substance was obtained as a result of the person seeking medical assistance.
(2) A person who experiences a drug-related overdose and is in need of medical assistance shall not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance pursuant to RCW 69.50.4013, or penalized under RCW 69.50.4014, if the evidence for the charge of possession of a controlled substance was obtained as a result of the overdose and the need for medical assistance.
(3) The protection in this section from prosecution for possession crimes under RCW 69.50.4013 shall not be grounds for suppression of evidence in other criminal charges.
[ 2015 c 205 § 4; 2010 c 9 § 2.]
NOTES:
Intent—2015 c 205: See note following RCW 69.41.095.
Intent—2010 c 9: "The legislature intends to save lives by increasing timely medical attention to drug overdose victims through the establishment of limited immunity from prosecution for people who seek medical assistance in a drug overdose situation. Drug overdose is the leading cause of unintentional injury death in Washington state, ahead of motor vehicle-related deaths. Washington state is one of sixteen states in which drug overdoses cause more deaths than traffic accidents. Drug overdose mortality rates have increased significantly since the 1990s, according to the centers for disease control and prevention, and illegal and prescription drug overdoses killed more than thirty-eight thousand people nationwide in 2006, the last year for which firm data is available. The Washington state department of health reports that in 1999 unintentional drug poisoning was responsible for four hundred three deaths in this state; in 2007, the number had increased to seven hundred sixty-one, compared with six hundred ten motor vehicle-related deaths that same year. Many drug overdose fatalities occur because peers delay or forego calling 911 for fear of arrest or police involvement, which researchers continually identify as the most significant barrier to the ideal first response of calling emergency services." [ 2010 c 9 § 1.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 69 - Food, Drugs, Cosmetics, and Poisons
Chapter 69.50 - Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
69.50.102 - Drug paraphernalia—Definitions.
69.50.201 - Enforcement of chapter—Authority to change schedules of controlled substances.
69.50.205 - Schedule II tests.
69.50.207 - Schedule III tests.
69.50.209 - Schedule IV tests.
69.50.213 - Republishing of schedules.
69.50.214 - Controlled substance analog.
69.50.302 - Registration requirements.
69.50.305 - Procedure for denial, suspension, or revocation of registration.
69.50.306 - Records of registrants.
69.50.311 - Triplicate prescription form program—Compliance by health care practitioners.
69.50.315 - Medical assistance—Drug-related overdose—Prosecution for possession.
69.50.317 - Opioid drugs—Communication with patient.
69.50.325 - Cannabis producer's license, cannabis processor's license, cannabis retailer's license.
69.50.327 - Cannabis processors—Incorporation of characterizing flavor in vapor products.
69.50.331 - Application for license.
69.50.334 - Denial of application—Opportunity for hearing.
69.50.335 - Cannabis retailer licenses—Social equity applicants—Rules—Definitions.
69.50.336 - Social equity in cannabis task force.
69.50.342 - State liquor and cannabis board—Rules.
69.50.345 - State liquor and cannabis board—Rules—Procedures and criteria.
69.50.346 - Labels on retail products.
69.50.348 - Representative samples of cannabis, useable cannabis, or cannabis-infused products.
69.50.351 - Board members and employees—Conflict of interest.
69.50.354 - Retail outlet licenses.
69.50.357 - Retail outlets—Rules.
69.50.363 - Cannabis processors, employees—Certain acts not criminal or civil offenses.
69.50.366 - Cannabis producers, employees—Certain acts not criminal or civil offenses.
69.50.369 - Cannabis producers, processors, researchers, retailers—Advertisements—Rules—Penalty.
69.50.372 - Cannabis research license.
69.50.375 - Cannabis retailers—Medical cannabis endorsement.
69.50.378 - Cannabis retailer holding medical cannabis endorsement—THC concentration in products.
69.50.385 - Common carriers—Licensing—State liquor and cannabis board to adopt rules.
69.50.395 - Licensed cannabis businesses, agreements—Disclosure to state liquor and cannabis board.
69.50.401 - Prohibited acts: A—Penalties.
69.50.4011 - Counterfeit substances—Penalties.
69.50.4012 - Delivery of substance in lieu of controlled substance—Penalty.
69.50.4014 - Possession of forty grams or less of cannabis—Penalty.
69.50.4015 - Involving a person under eighteen in unlawful controlled substance transaction—Penalty.
69.50.4016 - Provisions not applicable to offenses under RCW 69.50.410.
69.50.402 - Prohibited acts: B—Penalties.
69.50.403 - Prohibited acts: C—Penalties.
69.50.404 - Penalties under other laws.
69.50.405 - Bar to prosecution.
69.50.406 - Distribution to persons under age eighteen.
69.50.408 - Second or subsequent offenses.
69.50.410 - Prohibited acts: D—Penalties.
69.50.412 - Prohibited acts: E—Penalties.
69.50.4121 - Drug paraphernalia—Selling or giving—Penalty.
69.50.413 - Health care practitioners—Suspension of license for violation of chapter.
69.50.414 - Sale or transfer of controlled substance to minor—Cause of action by parent—Damages.
69.50.415 - Controlled substances homicide—Penalty.
69.50.416 - Counterfeit substances prohibited—Penalties.
69.50.420 - Violations—Juvenile driving privileges.
69.50.430 - Additional fine for certain felony violations.
69.50.438 - Cathinone or methcathinone—Additional fine.
69.50.440 - Possession with intent to manufacture—Penalty.
69.50.450 - Butane or other explosive gases.
69.50.455 - Synthetic cannabinoids—Unfair or deceptive practice under RCW 19.86.020.
69.50.460 - Cathinone or methcathinone—Unfair or deceptive practice under RCW 19.86.020.
69.50.465 - Conducting or maintaining cannabis club—Penalty.
69.50.470 - Medication disposal, no penalty for compliance.
69.50.475 - Cannabis retail outlets—Sale to persons under the age of twenty-one—Penalty.
69.50.500 - Powers of enforcement personnel.
69.50.501 - Administrative inspections.
69.50.502 - Warrants for administrative inspections.
69.50.504 - Cooperative arrangements.
69.50.505 - Seizure and forfeiture.
69.50.506 - Burden of proof; liabilities.
69.50.508 - Education and research.
69.50.509 - Search and seizure of controlled substances.
69.50.510 - Search and seizure at rental premises—Notification of landlord.
69.50.511 - Cleanup of hazardous substances at illegal drug manufacturing facility—Rules.
69.50.515 - Pharmacies—Cannabis—Notification and disposal.
69.50.525 - Diversion prevention and control—Report.
69.50.530 - Dedicated cannabis account (as amended by 2022 c 16).
69.50.540 - Dedicated cannabis account—Appropriations (as amended by 2022 c 16).
69.50.550 - Cost-benefit evaluations.
69.50.561 - Advice and consultation services—Licensed cannabis businesses.
69.50.563 - Licensed cannabis businesses—Civil penalty—Rules.
69.50.564 - Licensed cannabis businesses—Settlement agreement.
69.50.570 - Bundled transactions—Retail sales—Subject to tax—Exception.
69.50.575 - Cannabis health and beauty aids.
69.50.585 - Branded promotional items—Nominal value—Personal services.
69.50.587 - Cannabis science task force reports—Board rules.
69.50.601 - Pending proceedings.
69.50.602 - Continuation of rules.
69.50.603 - Uniformity of interpretation.