Oregon becomes first state to decriminalize small amounts of heroin and other street drugs

Oregon becomes first state to decriminalize small amounts of heroin and other street drugs

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State voters passed Measure 110 in November, but it officially went into effect on Monday. The initiative also expands access to care for drug addicts and other health services, offering help to those in need, instead of arresting and incarcerating for drugs.

Measure 110 was approved with 55.8% of the votes.

The possession of drugs such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine will no longer be punishable by imprisonment, but will be similar to a traffic ticket.

“Today, the first domino of our cruel and inhuman war on drugs has fallen, unleashing what we hope will be a cascade of other efforts focusing on health instead of criminalization,” said Drug Policy Alliance executive director Kassandra Frederique in a statement. on Monday.

“This law aims to protect people from harassment, harassment and criminalization at the hands of the state for using drugs and, instead, to have access to the support they need.”

Although possession of small quantities of drugs is decriminalized, possession of large quantities can result in a misdemeanor charge.

The action to decriminalize drugs in Oregon came after voters in a handful of other states passed electoral measures to legalize recreational marijuana.

Allan Kim contributed to this report.

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