Following the approval by Oregon voters in 2020 to decriminalize the possession of minor quantities of drugs, state legislators are now proposing a reversal of this policy with a new bill that has successfully passed both the Senate and House. This move marks a significant shift for Oregon, a state known for pioneering progressive drug policies, as it contemplates retracting a groundbreaking law that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of drugs just three years ago.
The Oregon Legislature took decisive action on Friday, with a bill aimed at reintroducing criminal penalties for small-scale drug possession. The bill, House Bill 4002, received a favorable vote of 21-8 in the Senate following a 51-7 approval in the House on Thursday. Governor Tina Kotek now has the opportunity to enact the bill. In conjunction, House Bill 5204, which allocates $211 million in funding for related measures, was also passed by the Senate with a 27-3 vote and is awaiting the Governor's approval.
Regarding Oregon's Measure 110 on Drug Decriminalization
Senator Kate Lieber, a Democrat from Portland and co-author of the bill, emphasized the legislation's role in reinforcing the state's dedication to providing Oregonians with necessary treatment and care. Lieber views the bill's passage as a pivotal moment for substantive and positive transformation within the justice system.
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