Oregon Lawmakers Move to Recriminalize Drug Possession Amid Public Support

As Democratic leaders finalize plans to amend Measure 110, a coalition of Black and Indigenous groups refuses to engage, citing exclusion from the process.

• Democratic lawmakers in Oregon are finalizing changes to Measure 110, aiming to make minor drug possession a crime again, with options for substance abuse treatment before arrest and conviction.
• A coalition representing Black and Indigenous people declined a meeting with lawmakers, arguing their voices were shut out of the discussion on Measure 110 modifications.
• The proposed changes to Measure 110 could cost between $180 million to $235 million, highlighting the financial implications of the policy shift.
• Public opinion in Oregon strongly favors making drug possession a crime again, as indicated by a recent poll commissioned by proponents of Measure 110's repeal.
• The refusal of the coalition to meet with lawmakers underscores the ongoing debate over the best approach to address drug possession and treatment in Oregon.

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