Oregon Set to Reverse Drug Decriminalization Amid Rising Overdose Deaths

State lawmakers propose new legislation to re-criminalize drug possession as overdose fatalities surge, reflecting a shift in public opinion and policy approach.

• Oregon's experiment with drug decriminalization, initiated in 2020, faces backlash as overdose deaths increase and public safety concerns grow.
• State Democrats and Republicans introduce proposals to re-criminalize drug possession, with potential penalties including jail time and fines.
• Public support for Measure 110, which decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs, declines as the state grapples with an opioid crisis.
• Critics argue that the decriminalization policy failed to reduce overdose deaths and exacerbated issues such as homelessness and public drug use.
• Maine considers the consequences of Oregon's policy as a cautionary tale, debating its own drug decriminalization bill.

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