Starting Sunday, Oregon made it illegal to possess small amounts of hard drugs like meth, heroin, and fentanyl as the state’s 2020 law called Measure 110, the first-in-nation law that decriminalized drugs, expired.
According to Measure 110, people found in possession of hard drugs were given $100 citations and the option to waive it by enrolling in an assessment for addiction treatment. The idea was to reduce the stigma of arrest and make it easier for people to find jobs and housing by avoiding criminal records.
Oregon’s marijuana tax revenues funded the substance-use disorder treatments.
But
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The state never really invested in behavioral health services, due to which there was a dire need for providers who’d care for drug users.
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The pandemic has left the healthcare system strained.
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The rising fentanyl problem added to Oregon’s issues. The soaring number of overdose deaths due to the drug prompted a 90-day state of emergency in downtown Portland.
Oregon tried to use the law in practice. According to data collected by the Oregon Judicial Department between February 1, 2021, and August 26, 2024, the state’s circuit court imposed ~$900,000 in fines but only collected $78,000.
The conviction rate was 89% for the 7,227 people cited, with methamphetamine accounting for 54% of citations and fentanyl for 31%.
Advocates of the measure are disappointed, viewing the move as a step backwards from addressing the root problems of substance abuse.