Oregon’s law that decriminalizes small amounts of all street drugs came into effect on Monday – making it the first state in the country to enact such a measure.
Those found with quantities of drugs for personal use – including heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, oxycodone and ecstasy – will now face a $ 100 fine instead of a criminal charge.
Known as Measure 110, the legislation was passed by most state voters in November. He focuses on providing treatment to drug users through newly funded addiction recovery centers.
“Today, the first domino of our cruel and inhuman drug war has fallen, unleashing what we hope will be a cascade of other efforts focusing on health instead of criminalization,” Kassandra Frederique, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, told the Associated Press .
The law was opposed. Two dozen public prosecutors argued that this would lead to the normalization of dangerous drugs.
Oregon is known to be at the forefront of progressive drug laws.
In 1973, the state became the country’s first to decriminalize marijuana. Then, in 2014, recreational marijuana became legal in Oregon.
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