By [ad_1]
Alisha Jucevic/Reuters
The Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Oregon, January 17, 2021.
CNN
—
Lawmakers in Oregon have overwhelmingly authorized a invoice that may make possession of a small quantity of sure medicine a misdemeanor within the state, shifting to re-criminalize sure substances like fentanyl after voters beforehand moved to decriminalize the possession and private use of all medicine.
The measure, HB4002, now strikes to Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk for her consideration. Kotek has not publicly stated whether or not she helps the measure, although in late January the governor joined native officers in declaring a fentanyl state of emergency in downtown Portland.
CNN has reached out to the governor’s workplace for remark.
The measure handed each chambers with bipartisan assist, with the state Senate approving the invoice Friday in a 21-8 vote after it had cleared the state Home the evening earlier than, 51-7.
In 2020, Oregon grew to become the primary state within the nation to decriminalize the possession and private use of all medicine when Measure 110 handed with 55.8% of the vote. It took effect in February 2021.
Beneath the voter-approved measure, possession of small quantities of medication reminiscent of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine was now not punishable by jail time and carried penalties extra akin to a site visitors ticket. It additionally expanded entry to dependancy help and different well being companies.
Backers of HB4002 celebrated the step towards rolling again elements of the state’s earlier decriminalization effort.
“Although lawmakers could have way more to do in future classes to proceed making progress on the fentanyl-fueled drug overdose and dependancy disaster going through our state, I used to be proud to face on the best aspect of historical past by casting my vote in favor for HB 4002,” Senate Republican chief Tim Knopp stated in a statement.
“Passing this invoice will put Oregon on a path to restoration and signifies and finish to the nationwide decriminalization motion,” he added.
The invoice’s critics have argued that re-criminalization would disproportionately hurt communities of shade.
“It isn’t sufficient to watch the system after we know it’s a system that has bias constructed into it,” stated Jennifer Parrish Taylor, the director of advocacy and public coverage at City League of Portland. “I concern that we are going to be again subsequent 12 months, listening to these tales of hurt, determining tips on how to make our communities complete.”
It is a creating story and will probably be up to date.
