Oregon rolls back liberal drugs policy
Since Oregon decriminalized the possession of hard drugs in 2020, opioid deaths have tripled, homelessness has risen by more than 20%.
Oregon has backtracked on its free-for-all approach to drugs amid rising criminality and a growing addiction crisis.
Under House Bill 4002, the possession of small amounts of drugs, including fentanyl and cocaine, will be recriminalised. However, controversially the Bill also bolsters the State’s ‘harm reduction’ policy.
Passed by lawmakers in Oregon’s lower house by 51 votes to seven, and endorsed by its Senate in a 21–8 vote, the Bill is expected to be signed into law by Oregon’s Democrat Governor Tina Kotek.
Since Oregon decriminalized the possession of hard drugs in 2020, opioid deaths have tripled, homelessness has risen by more than 20%, and its largest city, Portland, has reported an upsurge in both petty and violent crime.