Oregon first state to decriminalize possessing small quantities of heroin, cocaine, ecstasy

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Oregon has become the first state to decriminalize possessing small quantities of hard drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin, UPI reports. Following a ballot measure approved last year, the new ‘Measure 110’ law took effect on Monday.

Commenting on Measure 110, Oregon State Police Capt. Timothy Fox said in a statement: “Possession of larger amounts of drugs, manufacturing, and distribution are still crimes. With a crime, there is the possibility of fines and jail time. [With civil] violations, there is only the possibility of fines.”

According to the UPI report, “the law decriminalizes heroin possession under 1 gram; less than 2 grams of methamphetamine; less than 2 grams of cocaine; under 40 units of LSD; less than a gram of MDMA, or Ecstasy; less than 12 grams of psilocybin; less than 40 units of methadone and less than 40 oxycodone tablets.” Possession in these circumstances is now a civil offense that carries a $100 fine, which can be paid by undergoing a health assessment, UPI said. Moreover, the new law reduces the possession of larger amounts of cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and methamphetamine from a felony to a simple possession misdemeanor.

Measure 110 also provides that tens of millions of dollars from Oregon’s marijuana tax will fund addiction treatment for violators, UPI reports. In a statement about Oregon’s approach, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J. said: “I hope that we all become more enlightened across this country that substance abuse is not something that necessitates incarceration, but speaks to other social ills — lack of healthcare, lack of treatment, things of that nature.”
The Oregon District Attorney’s Association has described the new law as “dangerous” and “reckless,” UPI reports.

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