Democrat and Republican lawmakers appear committed to walk back decriminalization of drugs as the 2024 legislative session begins Monday, despite requests from recovery service providers to stay the course.
Whether Oregon recriminalizes possession, epidemiologists warn the state may be seeing just the beginning of fentanyl’s impact on overdose rates, citing trends in neighboring states and across the country. The increase in fatal drug overdoses, researchers say, is not scientifically linked to decriminalization.
Measure 110, the voter-approved decriminalization of drugs and redirection of marijuana tax revenues to substance use treatment, went into effect nearly three years ago. Its passage made Oregon the first state in the country to decriminalize possession of hard drugs.
An Emerson College survey last August of 1,000 Oregonians found 56% of Oregonians would prefer a repeal of Measure 110. The survey also found 64% of those asked said they would support a return of criminal charges. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3%. It was commissioned by the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions, an organization historically opposed to legalization of marijuana and drug decriminalization.