Oregon 1st state to decriminalize possession of drugs

Police in Oregon can no longer arrest someone for possession of small amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, oxycodone and other drugs as a ballot measure that decriminalized them took effect on Monday.

Instead, those found in possession would face a $100 fine or a health assessment that could lead to addiction counseling.

Backers of the ballot measure, which Oregon voters passed by a wide margin in November, hailed it as a revolutionary move for the United States.

"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.

At: https://apnews.com/article/oregon-decriminalize-drug-possession-6843f93c3d55212e0ffbdd8b93be9196

Volunteers deliver signed petitions in favor of Oregon Ballot Measure 110 last June.

Ballot Measure 110's backers said treatment needs to be the priority and that criminalizing drug possession was not working.

Besides facing the prospect of being locked up, having a criminal record makes it difficult to find housing and jobs and can haunt a person for a lifetime.