Oregon drug decriminalization

In November 2020, Oregon became the first state in the country to decriminalize possession of small amounts of illicit hard drugs when 60% of voters approved Measure 110. Proponents wanted to stop arresting people for a health condition (addiction). Tax money from the legal sale of cannabis will fund new treatment options for addicted Oregonians. Episode Notes America has been fighting a War on Drugs for 50 years - a war we've been losing. Oregon's Measure 110 is a bold attempt to re-reframe the tactics. It will attempt to shift the thinking from law enforcement to health care. On today's program, we hear from four people who'll be involved in how this first-in-the-nation experiment plays out. They don't all agree on the means to an end, but they do agree on the goal: Get help to anyone who wants it for substance use disorders and stop putting people in jail for what amounts to a complex neurobehavioral disorder with far-reaching social consequences. Read the text of Oregon Measure 110 Andrew Seaman, M.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine Oregon Health and Science University Central City Concern Addiction Medicine Mike Marshall Co-Founder & Director Oregon Recovers Beau Kilmer, Ph,D. M.P.P. Director RAND Drug Policy Research Center Janie Gullickson, M.P.A:H.A. P.S.S. P.R.C. Executive Director Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon Co-Chief Petitioner, Oregon Measure 110