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Anastasia Boushee

Oregon Recriminalizes Hard Drug Possession

On Monday, Oregon officially recriminalized possession of small amounts of hard drugs after the Democrat-run state practically destroyed itself by decriminalizing all hard drugs.

Oregon, especially its capital city of Portland, has practically become a third-world country in recent years due to rampant homelessness, skyrocketing crime and widespread open-air drug markets. Oregon resident Kevin Dahlgren has been documenting the chaos on the streets of Portland for some time now, sharing shocking and concerning images and videos on X to raise awareness.

In one such video, Dahlgren documented how easy it was for him to purchase the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl.

These disastrous consequences were caused Measure 110 — a ballot measure approved by 58% of Oregon voters in 2020 that put an end to criminal charges for possession of small amounts of any drug, including fentanyl. The measure instead punished drug offenders with a maximum fine of $100, which was rarely enforced and could be dismissed if the drug user simply called a hotline for addiction screening. In the first year with the measure in place, only 1% of drug users who received these fines called the hotline.

Meanwhile, the measure has led to skyrocketing fatal drug overdoses in the state, mostly driven by the fentanyl crisis. In 2023, there were roughly 1,250 overdose deaths in the state, according to data that is still being compiled. This is a significant increase from the 280 overdose deaths in 2019, the year before the measure was passed.

Following the abject failure of the measure, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) has signed a new bill into law that makes personal use possession a misdemeanor crime with a punishment of up to six months in jail. However, the new law does encourage law enforcement to create programs that would send drug users to addiction services or mental health services rather than jail, if possible.

While voters are happy with the decision, the radical activists who supported Measure 110 are outraged. Ignoring the horrific consequences of the measure for the city, its law-abiding residents and the drug addicts themselves, the radical leftist Drug Policy Alliance melted down on X over the news that drugs were being recriminalized.

“OR’s governor has recriminalized drugs in a return to the failed approach of arresting/jailing people,” the group wrote, sharing an image that claimed Oregon was returning “to a failed drug war.”

The image also stated “Defend public health” — appearing to assert that allowing rampant drug use is a positive move for public health, while taking drug users off the streets would harm public health.

Meanwhile, more than six in 10 voters in Oregon believe that decriminalization has worsened drug addiction, homelessness and crime in the state, according to a survey released in May 2023 from DMH Research. The poll found that a combined 63% of Oregon voters “strongly” supported or “somewhat” supported recriminalizing hard drugs.

The recriminalization of hard drugs is even supported by leftist Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.

“People are exhausted from feeling like they’re under siege. They want order restored to their environment,” Wheeler said.

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