Oregon Lawmakers Vote to Undo a Significant Part of Drug Decriminalization Law
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Oregon legislatures passed a bipartisan bill undoing a significant part of the state’s 2021 drug decriminalization law.
Details: The bill allows for penalties for the possession and sale of small amounts of drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin, and allows law enforcement to seize drugs if used in public spaces such as parks and sidewalks. Small possession of drugs can now lead to a misdemeanor charge and up to six months in prison. The bill also expands the availability of addiction treatments and medication as an alternative to criminal penalties.
For Context: In 2020, nearly 60% of voters in Oregon voted in favor of Measure 110, which decriminalized the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs. In early 2021, Oregon became the first state to pass a drug decriminalization law. But in recent years, the state’s continued struggle with opioid abuse sparked backlash against the measure.
How the Media Covered It: The Hill (Center Bias) emphasized the bill's bipartisan nature and its focus on providing alternatives such as drug treatment. Fox News (Right bias) focused more on the increasing overdose deaths, portraying the drug decriminalization as a failed experiment. The Guardian (Lean Left bias) noted concerns that the change “would create more suffering and disproportionately harm people of color.” This summary was developed with the help of AllSides' AI technology.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Oregon undoes groundbreaking drug decriminalization lawOregon lawmakers have moved to reintroduce criminal penalties for the possession of hard drugs, in effect ending the state’s groundbreaking three-year decriminalization experiment.
In 2020, nearly 60% of voters moved to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs with the passage of Measure 110, but the new law had grown increasingly controversial as the state grappled with the fentanyl crisis and growing public drug use.
Lawmakers had recently reached a bipartisan deal to undo a key aspect of the law and make minor possession a misdemeanor, while also...
From the Center
Oregon lawmakers pass bill undoing part of state drug decriminalization lawOregon legislatures have passed a bipartisan bill undoing a key part of the state’s decriminalization law, penalizing people for possession and selling small amounts of drugs.
The bipartisan bill passed both state chambers on Friday and is headed to the desk of Gov. Tina Kotek (D), who showed willingness last month to curb the decriminalization in Oregon.
The state Senate passed the legislation with a 21-8 vote on Friday following the lower chamber’s 51-7 vote on Thursday, according to the Associated Press (AP).
“In this historic vote to reimpose criminal...
From the Right
'Dying before our eyes': Overdose deaths push Oregon lawmakers to end drug decriminalization 'experiment'Oregon is ready to end its "experiment" with drug decriminalization, according to one state senator. This comes as skyrocketing overdose deaths and public drug usage compelled the state legislature to re-introduce criminal penalties for possession in the Beaver State.
"About four Oregonians a day are dying because of overdoses," state Sen. Tim Knopp, a Republican and minority leader in the upper chamber, told "Fox & Friends Weekend" on Sunday.
"The voters of Oregon were sold a bill of goods through an initiative that was on the ballot, and it decriminalized...
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