Oregon Becomes The First State In The U.S. To Decriminalize Drug Possession

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Voters in Oregon have made their state the first in the United States to decriminalize the personal possession of illegal drugs.

This will include cocaine, heroin, oxycodone and methamphetamine.

Measure 110 reclassifies possession of small amounts of drugs as a civil violation, similar to a traffic offense. The penalty becomes a $100 fine, which a person can avoid by agreeing to participate in a health assessment. Selling and manufacturing drugs will remain illegal.

The decriminalization provisions of the measure take effect on Feb. 1.

The measure will also fund health assessments, addiction treatment, harm-reduction efforts and other services for people with addiction disorders.

Funding those programs will come through the reallocation of tens of millions of dollars generated by Oregon’s cannabis tax, reports OPB.

The measure also is expected to generate savings in the criminal justice system because of fewer drug arrests, prosecutions and incarcerations. Those savings would be redirected into a new state fund for treatment and other services.

The state struggles with some of the highest rates of substance abuse in the nation and among the poorest rates of access to services, according to an analysis by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission.

“I am hopeful with this new effort that it will be successful to address addiction, but I think everyone can agree its an experiment,” said Kevin Barton, the district attorney for Washington County.