3 years after decriminalizing hard drugs in Oregon, only 85 cited people sought addiction assessment—thousands died of overdose

The state of Oregon's failed experiment to decriminalize hard drugs comes to an official end on Sunday, and data from the state's judicial department reveals just how disastrous and ineffective Measure 110 was. Only 85 people issued citations sought addiction assessment during the three years of decriminalization, and thousands died from overdoses, data shows.

Oregon became the first state in the nation to decriminalize possession of illicit drugs - such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and LSD - when voters approved Ballot Measure 110 in Nov. 2020. The law took effect on Feb. 1, 2021, turning possession of hard drugs from a criminal misdemeanor into a Class E misdemeanor, which warrants a citation of up to $100. The punishment could be compared to receiving a traffic ticket.

Measure 110 citations had granted those in possession of illegal drugs two options: pay a $100 fine through the court system or call a substance abuse helpline in exchange for their citation being waived. Progressive lawmakers intended to use cannabis tax income to fund the state's treatment system to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, but data shows hardly anyone paid the fine or called the helpline.
 

#BREAKING: A man overdosed right in front of me as I was walking the streets of downtown Portland.

He was administered narcan and going in and out of consciousness. I waited until police arrived. pic.twitter.com/tegYXDTk9r

— Katie Daviscourt 📸 (@KatieDaviscourt) August 7, 2023