Suit seeks to block vote on safe injection sites

SEATTLE (AP) — A group of public health experts and others are challenging a proposed King County initiative that would ban safe injection sites for drug users.

A lawsuit filed Monday comes days after county elections officials verified signatures for Initiative 27, which would ban supervised sites where heroin and other drugs can be used.

Protect Public Health’s lawsuit seeks to invalidate the measure, arguing that public health policy is outside the scope of the initiative process.

A spokesman for I-27 called the lawsuit another attempt to disenfranchise voters who want to have a say on the proposal.

The Metropolitan King County Council can pass the initiative as written or send it to voters. An elections official said Aug. 1 was the administrative deadline for the November ballot.

Council budget chair Dave Upthegrove said he’ll oppose county funding for the sites until the public has a chance to vote on I-27.