By Samara Yarnes
OREGON – This state served as a leader in the nation today by becoming the first state to decriminalize the possession of small quantities of drugs, as well as to begin providing services for those using drugs.
This change was brought on through a ballot initiative on the November 2020 ballot, which was heavily supported by Drug Policy Action and many other local, state and national organizations. With these groups’ advocacy, the initiative was able to pass with a 17-point margin.
Prior to the ballot initiative, those caught with the possession of drugs were arrested and given a criminal record, both potentially drastic impacts on their lives.
Now, with the ballot initiative in place, people will not only cease to be arrested, but they also will be given access to services such as: treatment, peer support, potential housing and much more.
It is expected that these services will help immensely. Supporters said drug users will now be granted the support they need, rather than punishing them for their usage.
Kassandra Frederique, the Executive Director of the previously mentioned Drug Policy Action, is enthusiastic about this change, stating that Oregon’s step towards decriminalizing drugs is “centering health over criminalization.”
This new mentality by the state of Oregon contrasts the previous war on drugs movement that has been around in America since the 1970s. The War on Drugs government-led initiative called for increased sentencing for drug-related crimes as a way to reduce drug usage.
However, the War on Drugs impacted minorities and those of color at a much higher rate. It led to the disproportionate arrest of racial minorities and the overflowing of incarcerated drug users in jails.
By decriminalizing drugs, the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission expects that Oregon’s disproportionate arrest rate of racial minorities for drug crimes will decrease by around 95 percent, and the free treatment services will help to strengthen communities torn apart by the War on Drugs harsh sentencing over the years.
These services will be funded by the leftover marijuana tax earnings from the state of Oregon. The state tax revenue is currently around $45 million, with these earnings expected to increase up to $129 million by the year 2027. The government expects to pay for the treatment services with the money saved from their decreased spending on housing and care for incarcerated individuals of drug possession.
It is with the initiative’s benefits in mind that Frederique notes, “Today, Oregon shows us a better, more just world is possible.”
Samara Yarnes is a senior at the University of California, Davis, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Psychology and Sociology. She is originally from La Crescenta, California.
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I am in favor of decriminalization of these drugs and offering recovery services.
What I am not in favor of is giving a pass on crimes because they are using drugs. I hope this reform doesn’t bleed over into the latter. For example, alcoholism isn’t a pass for getting out of a DUI.