Measure 110 Basics
In what year was Measure 110 passed in Oregon?
2020
Did overdoses go up or down after the law passed?
Up
What did Oregon decide to do in 2024?
Make drugs illegal again.
Who said Oregon was in a "state of emergency" because of drugs?
The governor of Oregon, Tina Kotek, declared a 90-day state of emergency in Portland's central city.
Has any other U.S. state tried this same drug law?
No, Oregon was the first.
What drug law did Measure 110 change?
It made small amounts of hard drugs legal to have.
What was one major challenge police faced after decriminalization?
They could only issue citations for drug possession, which many people ignored.
What new punishment do people face for having hard drugs?
They can get a fine or go to jail.
What percentage of voters supported Measure 110 in 2020?
58%!
(we'll take any number +/- 5%)
What country is known for decriminalizing drugs and having success?
Where did the money from this law go?
To drug treatment programs.
What problem did businesses and neighbors start complaining about?
More people using drugs in public
What is one way people can avoid jail, if caught using drugs?
By going to drug treatment
What do supporters of Measure 110 say it did right?
It focused on rehabilitating people instead of punishing them.
What do some other U.S. states do instead of arresting drug users?
They send them to drug courts or rehab.
What kind of drugs did the law include?
Drugs like heroin, meth, and cocaine
Did more people get drug treatment after the law passed?
No, fewer people went to treatment.
Why did lawmakers decide to bring back drug penalties?
Because overdose deaths and drug use got worse, the fentanyl crisis was too visible and disruptive in communities and public spaces
What do critics of Measure 110 say went wrong?
The extreme nature of fentanyl crisis, not enough people were seeking rehabilitation, and the increase of open-air drug use began to hurt communities
Why do some people think drug laws should be less strict?
So drug users get help instead of going to jail.
What do critics of RE-CRIMINALIZING drugs have to say regarding the equity implications?
Critics argue that reinstating criminal penalties may disproportionately affect marginalized groups, potentially exacerbating existing disparities.