Oregon Is The First State To Decriminalize Possession Of Hard Drugs; Will Build Rehab Centers Funded By State’s Marijuana Industry

Oregon is now the first state to decriminalize the possession of hard drugs.

Heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, oxycodone, and other hard drugs are now okay to have in the state of Oregon as long as the amount isn’t excessive. WSVN reports people who possess the drugs will now be subjected to a $100 fine or a health assessment that could lead to addiction counseling.

The ballot measure took effect on Monday, and it was voted on back in November. “Today, the first domino of our cruel and inhumane war on drugs has fallen, setting off what we expect to be a cascade of other efforts centering health over criminalization,” said Kassandra Frederique, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, which spearheaded the ballot initiative.

WSVN reports that supporters of what is called Ballot Measure 110 all believe that criminalizing drug possession produced no positive results. They added that imprisonment only sets people up to struggle with finding a job, a home, and other everyday needs that would ultimately rotate some people back into the prison and jail system. However, 24 district attorneys argued that the measure would make Oregon residents feel more comfortable with the drugs.

Instead of being arrested, people with small amounts of drugs will face civil citation, similar to “a traffic ticket, said Drug Policy Alliance spokesperson Matt Sutton. Addiction recovery centers will now be in charge of “triaging the acute needs of people who use drugs and assessing and addressing any on-going needs thorough intensive case management and linkage to care and services.”

The money will come from Oregon’s legalized and taxed marijuana industry.