Less than three months before Oregon is set to recriminalize drug possession, a handful of Portland-area leaders are drafting a plan in closed-door meetings that critics argue would largely maintain the status quo in the state’s most populous county.
“I think the assumption by most people was this was actually going to lead to people actually getting access to treatment as an alternative to arrest, but if they didn’t want treatment, they were going to be arrested,” Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards told KOIN 6 News.
Instead of providing direct access to treatment, the proposal includes “an endless revolving door,” according to Brim-Edwards. The plan has not been shared publicly yet.
Oregonians voted to decriminalize possession of all drugs in 2020, leading to a surge in open-air drug use and overdose deaths. To address this, lawmakers passed House Bill 4002 in March, creating a new misdemeanor drug possession charge. People caught with small amounts of substances like meth and fentanyl now have a choice: undergo treatment or face up to six months in jail.
Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson is leading the effort to implement the new law in her county. Under the proposed plan, individuals caught with drugs would only need to check in at a drop-off center to avoid arrest. They would not be required to undergo screening or treatment, and there would be no limit to how often they could choose deflection over arrest.
Some county commissioners and the district attorney-elect have criticized the proposal, stating that it does not effectively address the issue of drug possession. They believe that the plan may not lead to meaningful change and could potentially worsen the situation.
On the other hand, neighboring counties like Clackamas and Washington have stricter enforcement plans in place. District attorneys in these counties expect individuals to comply with treatment requirements and plan to limit the number of times people can opt for deflection.
As the September 1 deadline approaches for the new law to take effect, the debate over the best approach to handling drug possession in Oregon continues. While some believe that providing treatment options is crucial, others argue that stricter enforcement measures are necessary to address the root causes of drug addiction.
The ongoing discussions and differing approaches taken by various counties highlight the complex nature of the drug decriminalization issue in Oregon. Finding a balance between treatment, enforcement, and prevention remains a challenge for policymakers and community leaders as they work to address the state’s drug crisis.