Oregon’s Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek on Monday signed into legislation a invoice that recriminalizes the possession of small quantities of medicine, ending a first-in-the-nation experiment with decriminalization that was hobbled by implementation points.
The brand new legislation rolls again a 2020 voter-approved measure by making so-called private use possession a misdemeanor punishable by as much as six months in jail. It additionally establishes methods for remedy to be provided as an alternative choice to legal penalties by encouraging legislation enforcement businesses to create deflection applications that might divert folks to habit and psychological well being companies as an alternative of the legal justice system.
In a signing letter, Kotek mentioned the legislation’s success will rely upon “deep coordination” between courts, police, prosecutors, protection attorneys and native psychological well being suppliers, describing them as “essential companions to realize the imaginative and prescient for this laws.”
Measure 110, authorised by voters with 58% assist in 2020, made the non-public use possession of illicit medicine reminiscent of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine solely punishable by a ticket and a most wonderful of $100. Supporters mentioned remedy is more practical than jail in serving to folks overcome habit and that the decadeslong strategy of arresting folks for possessing and utilizing medicine hasn’t labored.
The legislation directed a whole lot of thousands and thousands of {dollars} of the state’s hashish tax income towards habit companies. However the cash was sluggish to get out the door and well being authorities, already grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, struggled to face up the brand new remedy system, state auditors discovered. On the similar time, the fentanyl disaster started to spark a rise in lethal overdoses.
These pressures prompted Oregon Democrats to shift their stance on decriminalization coverage in latest months.
Some who traditionally supported the measure voted for the brand new legislation throughout this yr’s brief legislative session. Whereas different Democratic lawmakers opposed the measure, involved it will end in extra arrests and exacerbate social inequities, it finally handed the Democrat-controlled Legislature final month.
GOP leaders had lengthy sought to overtake Measure 110. After Kotek’s signing, Home Minority Chief Jeff Helfrich mentioned the legislation illustrated how Republicans “stood united and compelled Democrats” to revive legal penalties.
The modifications take impact Sept. 1.
