Oregon lawmakers set to recriminalize possession of hard drugs

The state Senate in a 21-8 vote Friday approved a bill to reform its drug laws. The new legislation advanced three years after Oregon eliminated criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of drugs including heroin, methamphetamine, or fentanyl. The state House voted 51-7 on Thursday to approve the measure and lawmakers sent the bill to Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk. If signed into law, the legislation would take effect in September. Anyone caught in possession of varying amounts of drugs—for instance, two grams of a mixture containing cocaine—would face probation or up to six months in jail. The law would allow offenders to undergo drug treatment in place of criminal penalties and the measure aims to make it easier to prosecute drug dealers.

When did the state decriminalize these offenses? Oregon voters in November of 2020 approved Measure 110. The law took effect in February 2021. The measure also redirected marijuana tax revenue to substance use treatment programs. About 30 percent more Oregonians died from overdoses in 2021 than in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The national overdose rate increased by about 15 percent during the same period, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The law had not clearly established an improved substance abuse care network, according to a December report from the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office.

Who led the movement to repeal Measure 110? The state in September formed the Joint Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response to respond to drug use in the state. Rep. Jason Kropf, D-Bend, and Sen. Kate Lieber, D-Portland, introduced the bill in February. Senate Republicans on Friday applauded the bill’s passage, saying it would help officials address the drug abuse issues in the state. Lawmakers also approved a $211 million funding package to support the bill.

Who opposed the repeal? Some lawmakers said the House bill would not be effective in helping Oregonians overcome drug addiction. During the Senate hearing on Friday, Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, said the state did not have the infrastructure to handle new criminal cases. An advocacy group called Unite Oregon also opposed the bill and protested outside the Capitol, saying the measure would disproportionately affect minority communities.

Dig deeper: Read Addie Offereins’ report in Compassion about how state lawmakers began rethinking the decision to decriminalize drugs.