PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) – Oregon’s law decriminalizing drugs – the first of its kind in the US – may soon get a rehaul.
With less than two weeks until the start of the 2024 legislative session, Democratic lawmakers unveiled a controversial bill proposal that could recriminalize the possession of drugs.
Fatal crash leaves 1 dead in NE Portland
Led by Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, the Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety outlined their plan for House Bill 4002 – reversing Measure 110’s decriminalization of hard drugs approved by voters in 2020.
“Officers are being called to abate these acute situations that are happening on the streets,” Lieber said. “And we did remove a tool from them, giving back a tool to the police officers through this.”
The new bill would essentially give people the choice between being charged and treatment when they are caught carrying drugs like fentanyl and meth. Treatment would include completing a behavioral health screening and participating in a “deflection program” in order to sidestep fines.