Oregon residents work to unravel drug law that decriminalized heroin and meth possession
Eden Villalovas
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A multicounty alliance in Oregon is working to scale back some elements of a state measure lowering penalties for drug charges and effectively decriminalizing drug possession that passed three years ago.
Composed of political, civic, and business leaders, the group is aiming to rework the measure that eliminated criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of any drug by once again treating minor drug possession as a misdemeanor crime.
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“We are seeking to fix and improve Measure 110,” Max Williams, a former state lawmaker and previous director of the Oregon Department of Corrections, said, per the Oregonian.
Oregon voters passed Measure 110 in 2020, decriminalizing hard drugs, but a majority wants the measure repealed completely. Fifty six percent of Oregon registered voters would prefer to repeal the law, according to a recent survey from Emerson College Polling.
Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton joined the movement to revise the law. He claims the voters have not seen the results the measure promised, such as increasing access to treatment. Williams, who formerly served as CEO of the Oregon Community Foundation, said in an interview with Fox 12 last year that his office saw an increase in crime.
Earlier this month, the first detox center opened in Portland that was funded by Measure 110, which redirects taxes to fund drug treatment programs.
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The coalition is proposing a short session or a special session for 2024 so lawmakers can review the suggested revisions. If the legislature does not take up the session, the group is raising money for a potential ballot measure next fall.
The group also hopes to remove oversight from the Oregon Health Authority and the Oversight and Accountability Council, which oversees how the grant funds will be distributed from Measure 110, and let a reconstructed Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission take on the role.