In a move that has sparked controversy and mixed reactions, Democratic lawmakers in Oregon have unveiled a sweeping new bill that would roll back a key part of the state’s first-in-the-nation drug decriminalization law.
The bill, introduced by state Senator Kate Lieber and other Democrats, aims to recriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs as a low-level misdemeanor. The authors of the bill have stated that this move is necessary in light of the rampant public drug use during the fentanyl crisis and the public’s changing attitude towards the original law.
The original decriminalization law, Measure 110, was passed by voters in 2020 with 58% support. It directed the state’s cannabis tax revenue towards drug addiction treatment while also decriminalizing the possession of “personal use” amounts of illicit drugs. For example, possession of less than a gram of heroin would only result in a ticket and a maximum fine of $100. However, supporters of the new bill argue that the current approach hasn’t worked and the state is seeing one of the largest spikes in overdose deaths.
The bill, which was developed by a recently created committee on addiction, is set to be introduced during the upcoming legislative session in February. The committee was established in response to growing concern over the state’s drug crisis, with Democrats hoping to come up with a solution to address the shortcomings of the current decriminalization law. Since its formation in September, the committee has held multiple hearings and heard testimony from law enforcement officials and substance use disorder experts.
Under the new bill, “personal use” possession of illegal drugs would become a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a fine of $1,250. The authors of the bill have assured that this change would not affect the state’s legalization of cannabis or psychedelic mushrooms. Additionally, those arrested for small amounts of drugs would be referred to a peer support specialist to schedule an assessment or intervention to avoid prosecution.
Opponents of the bill argue that it doesn’t go far enough, with Republican lawmakers calling for mandatory treatment and “personal use” possession to be a higher-level misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail or a $6,250 fine. However, advocacy groups who have supported Oregon’s decriminalization law are opposed to the new bill, stating that criminalization is not an effective tool for getting people into treatment and does more harm than good.
The bill also seeks to make it easier to prosecute drug dealers and impose harsher penalties for selling drugs near homeless shelters and substance use disorder treatment centers. It also aims to expand access to treatment, particularly medical care for opioid addiction.
If passed, the bill would allow doctors to prescribe such medications without prior approval or review from insurance companies and make it easier for pharmacists to refill these prescriptions in certain emergency situations.
Additionally, the bill would extend fair housing standards to protect individuals who are prescribed addiction treatment medications from facing discrimination when trying to access long-term living facilities such as permanent supportive housing for the homeless. The authors of the bill assert that this would further support individuals in their recovery journey.
The draft bill is still being finalized, and lawmakers have just 35 days to pass it once the legislative session starts on February 5th. In the coming weeks, both sides of the debate are expected to voice their opinions and concerns, as Democratic lawmakers aim to find a compromise that addresses the state’s drug crisis while also upholding their commitment to treating drug addiction as a public health issue.
