In 2020, Oregon became the first state in the United States to decriminalize possession of hard drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. This radical illegal experiment became an unmitigated disaster.
Initially, concerns raised by Republicans, recovery experts, and Christian groups were ignored;
Ballot Measure 110; State Democrats are now poised to recriminalize drug possession, ending a four-year experiment. Ultimately, a majority of Oregonians want this measure repealed.
How it all started
The so-called “Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act” eliminated criminal penalties for possession of various amounts of hard drugs. As a result, drug addicts can now possess one gram of heroin. 2 grams of cocaine. 2 grams of meth. His methadone user units are less than 40. MDMA 1 gram or 5 tablets. Less than 40 LSD user units. Less than 40 oxycodone tablets.
Possession of such amounts constitutes a non-criminal Class E violation and may result in a fine of up to $100 or recommendation for a medical examination by an addiction treatment professional.
The penalties for ingesting more of these once-controlled substances were also reduced, making it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison, a fine, or both.
In addition to decriminalizing hard drugs, the bill would require the creation or funding of recovery centers throughout the state, funded by marijuana taxes.
according to According to Ballotpedia, the bill was supported by the Oregon Democratic Party, ACLU of Oregon, ACLU, NAACP Portland, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, and various other left-wing groups.
“It takes a lot of courage to try something new, but I’m really proud of where we are,” said one of the bill’s petitioners, a so-called harm reduction expert. A certain Mr. Haven Wheelock said,
Said Oregon Public Broadcasting. “I’m excited to be a model for other places to show people that being sick doesn’t have to hurt people.”
“While we are hopeful that this new initiative will be successful in combating addiction, I think we can all agree that this is an experiment,” said Washington County District Attorney Kevin Burton.
Measure 110 won
Voter turnout 58.5%. Decriminalization took effect on February 1, 2021.
how it’s happening
Portland — a city run by Democrats;
Exodus of business from areas surrounded by Downtown where crime is common And across the state, drug addicts who might once have been brought to their senses by arrest are now dying by the thousands.
according to Fatal overdoses have skyrocketed in recent years, according to data from the Oregon Health Authority. There were 824 fatal overdoses in 2020. In the year M110 went into effect, there were 1,189 fatal overdoses. According to preliminary data, there were more than 1,100 overdose deaths in 2022.
Fentanyl has proven particularly deadly. oregonlive.com
I got it. In the year to September 2019, 77 people were found to have died from fentanyl. In the year ending September 2023, 1,268 people died from overdose.
There appears to be a correlation between fatal overdoses and M110.
University of Toronto
study “When Oregon decriminalized small amounts of drugs in February 2021, it resulted in an additional 182 involuntary deaths in Oregon in 2021,” the journal, published in September in the Journal of Health Economics, said. “Deaths due to drug overdose have occurred.”
This explains “a 23% increase in the number of unintentional drug overdose deaths that would have been expected if Oregon had not decriminalized the drug.”
Promised benefits related to M110 also failed to materialize.
police
was suggested He claimed to OPB that $100 tickets for possession of fentanyl and other similar murder drugs were unpaid and that users never called the treatment hotline number.
“We spoke to exactly two individuals who actually called that number,” said Sgt. Jerry Sioeta of the Portland Police Bureau.
The state auditor’s office found that about 1 percent of drug addicts named by police called the hotline.
report Statesman Journal.
Some supporters of the failed policy argue that it is too early to know whether it will be effective.
“We’re building the plane as we fly it,” Wheelock said. Said Atlantic. “We’ve been trying to wage a war on drugs for 50 years and it hasn’t worked.”[.] …My heart breaks every time someone says this needs to be abolished before giving it a chance. ”
half of the Democratic bill
a
nonpartisan statewide poll A paper published last April found that 51% of Oregonians believe M110 has proven harmful to the state. 65% of respondents said M110 made their drug addiction worse. 63% said the measure made homelessness worse. 63% said it aggravated the crime.
Fifty-three percent of respondents said they want M110 to be repealed, understanding that states are failing to fully benefit from drug treatment programs and distributed cannabis tax revenue as overdoses and criminal activity skyrocket. suggested that it should.
Ann
August 2023 Emerson College Poll It also found that 56% of Oregonians believe M110s should be completely phased out, and 50% say M110s have made their communities significantly less safe.
The state Legislature has proposed a variety of proposals aimed at adjusting, replacing, or eliminating the M110.
Democrats are seeking to make petty drug possession a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by one month in jail and a $1,250 fine. Drug addicts would be given the opportunity to defeat the charges by seeking treatment instead.
report Reuters.
“It has become abundantly clear that what is happening on the streets of Portland, and what is happening on Main Street in Oregon, is unacceptable,” said State Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber (D). ) said.
Republicans understand that the proposed bill, House Bill 4002, shows Democrats’ understanding that M110 is disastrous, but they say it’s completely toothless.
“We need tough penalties to make sure people get treatment instead of staying on the streets,” said state Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp.
Senate Bill 1555 and Senate Bill 1588, sponsored by Republicans, would make drug possession a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a year in prison and a $6,250 fine.
report Statesman Journal. Similar to the Democratic alternative, drug addicts under the proposed Republican bill could receive probation rather than jail time if they seek treatment.
“The Republican bill would restore accountability, get addicts into treatment, and make our streets clean and safe again, none of which would be accomplished with the majority’s proposal,” said House Minority Leader Sgt. said Congressman Jeff Helfrich (Republican).
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