Oregon’s Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek on Monday ratified a bill that recriminalizes possession of small amounts of drugs, ending a deadly left-wing experiment.
Naruko state
In 2020, Beaver State radicals believe that the best way to deal with addiction and what they perceive to be “systems of oppression” is to allow addicts to use heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, and other drugs without legal repercussions. The idea was to allow people to openly possess illegal drugs.
This decriminalization effort took the form of Measure 110, which reclassified possession of Schedule I-IV controlled substances from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E offense.
The Oregon Democratic Party, Multnomah Democratic Party, several physician unions, the ACLU of Oregon, NAACP Portland, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, and various other left-wing groups supported the bill.
The Oregon Association Police Chief, various restoration groups, the Oregon Catholic Conference, and the Washington County Republican Party were among those who understood that the decriminalization plan was a recipe for disaster. report Votingpedia.
“Such measures will reduce the risk and cost of doing business for drug dealers and increase the supply of these drugs on streets across the country,” said Naomi Schaefer Riley, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. “Drugs will become cheaper and more easily available.” While adults already suffer from untreated mental illness, poverty and abuse, children feel the effects most acutely. ”
“This is a terrible idea. It’s divorced from what’s best for Oregonians. It’s going to lead to more crime and more drug use,” said Washington County District Attorney Kevin Burton.
Measure 110 was placed on the ballot in November 2020, with 58.5% of voters voting in favor.
Cassandra Frederick, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, touted the outcome as a “paradigm-changing victory and perhaps the biggest blow to the drug war to date,” adding, “Oregon will be more humane and compassionate.” “We showed the world a certain approach.” It’s possible. ”
This law came into effect in February 2021.
fatal failure
It turns out that normalizing hard drug use was indeed a “terrible idea”.After all, earlier this year, Governor Kotek, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, and Multnomah County Chairwoman Jessica Vega Pederson each declared 90-day state of emergency to address uncontrolled overdoses in the state.
newsweek report From 2020 to 2022, overdose deaths in Oregon jumped 75%. By comparison, overdose deaths nationwide increased by only 18% during the same two-year period. Opioid overdoses in the Beaver State increased by 101% and meth-related overdoses increased by 112% during this period.
Since Act 110 was passed, violent crime has increased by 17%, public drug use and homeless camps filled with drug addicts are everywhere.
Portland remains one of the seediest cities in America. Ranking Neighborhood Scout’s crime index is 1, with 100 being the safest.
To make matters worse, drugs were flowing freely on the streets, crime was on the rise, and Oregon had one of the highest increases in homelessness in the nation.oregonian report From 2020 to 2022, the state’s homeless population increased from 3,304 to approximately 18,000.
The public quickly became dissatisfied with the decriminalization plan, and even radicals like Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler called for sanity to be restored.
Correct a “big mistake”
Kotec ratified House Bill 4002 The measure was taken on Monday and effectively repeals Measure 110.
Under the law, which has bipartisan support, courts can jail individuals found in possession of illegal drugs for up to 180 days or sentence them to 18 months of probation. Prison sentences can be reduced “if the defendant has been released for a treatment program or has previously been incarcerated.”
The law, which prohibits courts from imposing fines and fees for drug possession convictions, does not take effect until September 1.
statesman journal report In testimony before the state Legislature, the Oregon Public Defender Commission said it would hire 39 new full-time public defenders just to handle the overabundance of suspects charged with drug crimes under the bill. suggested that it was necessary.
“We must recognize that House Bill 4002 will likely increase the number of unrepresented people in Oregon,” Kotek said. I have written he said in a letter to the state House speaker and state Senate president.
While Wheeler is critical of Bill 110 and its aftermath, he doesn’t yet seem ready to condemn the idea that fuels the decriminalization movement. tell The New York Times said, “The state failed to implement…Decriminalizing drug use before treatment services were actually available was clearly a big mistake.”
“The truth is that addiction rates and overdose rates have skyrocketed, and I personally don’t attribute all of that to the passage of Measure 110,” Wheeler added. “It was very easy for the public to draw the line between passing Bill 110, decriminalizing hard drugs, increasing addiction and increasing overdoses, and drug-related criminal activity.”
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