BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A proposed ordinance to criminalize public drug use in Bellingham has fallen short.

Mayor Seth Fleetwood introduced the plan at a City Council meeting on Monday, March 12th, which would have made open drug use a misdemeanor.

“The ordinance that we’re recommending to you is something that I think is going to be beneficial on a number of fronts,” said Fleetwood. “We are not suggesting this is a cure-all. This is another tool in the tool kit to address open use.”

However, councilmembers said that not enough resources were available to make the ordinance feasible.

Councilmember Hannah Stone was among those who voted against the ordinance.

“If we don’t have a therapeutic court and other options in place at this time, then further criminalizing or trying to arrest our way out of addiction is just insane,” said Stone.

But some councilmembers were open to the idea of establishing a “community court” before readdressing the ordinance.

The court, also proposed by Mayor Fleetwood, would offer low-level and non-violent offenders social services while also holding them responsible for their actions.