Three years ago, Oregon voters approved a ballot measure that would have dire consequences for the health and safety of our communities. Measure 110 may have been passed with the best intentions, but it has proven to be an abject failure.
It has exacerbated the drug crisis while offering little incentive for users to seek treatment. The law does nothing to prevent public drug use on our streets. It has left us with a system that lacks the authority to hold individuals accountable for their actions, resulting in more crime and homelessness that harm our businesses and tourism.
But there is reason for hope. State lawmakers indicate a willingness to tackle some of the shortfalls of Measure 110 and have introduced legislation to do just that. However, the recommendations from the Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety falls short of what was recommended by cities and public safety officers.
Polling shows that 64% of Oregonians now support a partial repeal of Measure 110, and the next steps by legislators are extremely important. This is an opportunity for citizens to make their voices heard and spur the Legislature to create the right path forward.
As president of the League of Oregon Cities, our organization has signed on to a list of 11 policy recommendations, alongside the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association, Oregon District Attorneys Association and Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police. These proposals would ensure law enforcement has the tools they need to improve public safety, while steering addicts into recovery.
First, the Legislature should reclassify drug possession and public drug use as Class A misdemeanors, which carry a maximum of one year in jail and a $6,250 fine. However, these charges could be dismissed if offenders successfully complete a one-year drug diversion course and necessary treatment. This approach ensures there is a mechanism for addicts to get their lives back on track, with real repercussions for those who choose to do nothing.
As a state, we should prioritize sustainable funding for local treatment and behavioral health programs. Our recommendations call for properly supporting Oregon’s Specialty Courts, authorizing substance abuse treatment and supervision for nonviolent offenders, and helping them reintegrate into their communities. There is also a need to expand the capacity of drug detoxification centers, substance abuse treatment and peer support facilities across the state.
Finally, more needs to be done to crack down on those who are manufacturing and selling drugs. Legislators can accomplish this by defining “delivery” of illegal drugs to include “possession with intent to transfer,” and increasing penalties for repeat offenders if delivery results in death.
These are just a few key ways in which the Legislature, led by the Joint Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response, can make our communities safer, healthier places to live.
I truly believe we can get there through active engagement and testimony from the majority of our citizens who believe the current system isn’t working. It is incumbent on our legislators to listen to their concerns and act with urgency during the short session. Otherwise, the alternative will be more drugs, more crime, and no accountability to seek help.
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