News/Commentary

Oregon lawmakers decide to recriminalize hard drugs after overdose deaths soared 190%

March 2, 2024 | | Print Article

Oregon has reportedly voted to reverse its hard drug decriminalization because of the overdose epidemic now affecting the state.

In 2020, almost 60 percent of Oregon voters approved Measure 110, which decriminalized the possession of relatively small amounts of hard drugs, including heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.

The measure predictably led to Oregon becoming a den of drug addicts and drug overdoses.

“In 2019, 280 people died of a drug overdose in Oregon,” Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) reported in January. “Fatalities rose every year after, more than tripling by 2022, when 956 died. And last year, even more people died, according to preliminary data.”

“Each month the number has been higher than the previous year, reaching 628 in June. The state is still compiling data for 2023, but if the trends continue, the total would reach 1,250 deaths from an overdose,” according to OPB.

The good news is that Oregon’s wildly leftist lawmakers have finally woken the hell up.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Lawmakers in Oregon have overwhelmingly passed a bill that would make possession of a small amount of certain drugs a misdemeanor in the state, moving to re-criminalize substances like fentanyl roughly three years after the state became the first in the nation to de-criminalize the possession and personal use of all drugs,” CNN reported Friday.

“The measure, HB4002, now goes to Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk for her consideration. Kotek has not publicly said whether she supports the measure, though in late January the governor joined local officials in declaring a fentanyl state of emergency in downtown Portland,” according to CNN.

Under the new measure, offenders would face up to six months in jail or mandatory drug treatment for possession of small quantities of hard drugs.

When asked whether she’d support the measure, Gov. Kotek’s office said it’d “have to pass the balancing test of concrete, measurable improved outcomes for individuals who are struggling with addiction and accountability.”

ADVERTISEMENT

According to The Guardian, the authors of the measure “have said that drug users will have the opportunity to seek treatment before facing any criminal consequences and that the proposal was necessary to give law enforcement the power to tackle public drug use.”

“With this bill, we are doubling down on our commitment to make sure Oregonians have access to the treatment and care that they need,” Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, a Democrat, said.

“Though lawmakers will have much more to do in future sessions to continue making progress on the fentanyl-fueled drug overdose and addiction crisis facing our state, I was proud to stand on the right side of history by casting my vote in favor for HB 4002,” Senate Republican leader Tim Knopp added in a statement.

“Passing this bill will put Oregon on a path to recovery and signifies an end to the nationwide decriminalization movement,” he continued.

ADVERTISEMENT

Critics meanwhile say this whole fiasco is just further proof that Democrats don’t have a clue how to govern properly.

“This is a ‘national black eye’ for the Libs and their leadership in major cities. They look like fools,” one critic tweeted.

Look:

See more criticism below:

ADVERTISEMENT

Vivek Saxena
Latest posts by Vivek Saxena (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles