In a statement released on Tuesday, state Rep. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, announced Washington state would join Mississippi and British Columbia in July as the only three jurisdictions to ban the private use of pill presses.
Gov. Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1209 into law on Thursday.
According to Griffey, pill presses are being used to make fake Percocet and other drugs that have flooded the black market in Washington state and are driving the state’s rising overdose rate.
Griffey represents the 35th Legislative District, which includes parts of Tenino, Rochester and other areas of South Thurston County.
HB 1209, sponsored by state Rep. Mari Leavitt, D-University Place, will make possession or sale of a pill press outside of legitimate medical uses a class C felony in Washington punishable by five years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
"It is a victory in our otherwise inadequate plan to fight the out-of-control drug crisis in Washington state that is killing people every day, often our children and the most vulnerable in our communities. … And now, they are targeting our youngest, most vulnerable — our children, making these pills in rainbow colors to look like children's cereal to market to kids with deadly consequences," said Griffey, who co-sponsored the bill.
HB 1209 was a personal cause for Griffey, who lost a close family friend, Tyler Lee Yates, to fentanyl just over a year ago. Tyler Yates was the son of a firefighter Griffey had known during his over 30 years in firefighting. Tyler Yates became addicted to opioids after suffering severe back injuries in a motorcycle crash. In January 2022, Tyler Yates purchased what he believed was Percocet in the parking lot of a local casino. The pill turned out to be counterfeit fentanyl made in a pill press. Tyler Yates died in the casino parking lot. HB 1209 was named in Tyler Yates’ honor.
"There's no way to tell the difference between a real one and a fake one," said Greg Yates, Tyler Yates’ father. "Unfortunately, in this case it was counterfeit, and it was fentanyl, and it was enough to end his life. If one life can be saved or if awareness can come out of this, if anything good can come out of a tragedy that's all we can ever hope for."
Two people who were arrested for allegedly providing the fake pill to Tyler Yates are now awaiting trial on charges including Controlled Substance Homicide.
"He was one of those guys that was good at everything," Zach Yates, Tyler's brother, told KING 5 after the bill signing. "He was a great guy."
According to Griffey, illegal pill press operations are a growing problem in Washington state and across the country. The U.S. attorney for Western Washington recently announced indictments against 27 people connected to a drug operation that included a Shelton couple found with 650,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills made with a pill press. A Marysville couple is on trial in a similar case.
HB 1209 passed both chambers of the Legislature unanimously.
"This is one small step in what needs to be the first of many to protect our communities against the scourge of fentanyl," said Griffey. "I want to thank my good friend, Rep. Mari Leavitt for inviting me to take part in this bipartisan effort. We have a long way to go, and I look forward to being a leader in that fight."
