And Oregon voters chose to pass Measure 110 in November 2020. It decriminalized minor levels of possession for illegal drugs. It pushed more money toward treatment.
But it has had problems.
So many people with offenses under the new law don’t show up in court. Out of the 3,768 cases for offenses between Measure 110’s effective date in February 2021 and the end of 2022, more than half failed to appear in court. Many did not even follow up with treatment. People who are now given tickets for possession can basically skip out of doing anything without repercussions.
There was also a disjointed, delayed process to get money out the door for treatment.
Now a state audit warns that there is a risk that policy makers aren’t going to be able to tell the effectiveness of Measure 110. The state lacks adequate management of grants and doesn’t do a good enough job of collecting data.
The audit also says improvements are needed in better coordination of what money is doing.
What Oregon had before Measure 110 wasn’t working well. What Oregon has now is not working well. So many state politicians — Gov. Tina Kotek, House Speaker Dan Rayfield and more — have expressed a desire to have Oregon government deliver. What will they do this legislative session to ensure that happens? What will they do to compensate for the inherent contradiction of a policy for illegal drugs that is supposed to direct people into treatment that makes it easy to dodge any treatment or any consequence for possession?
You can read the complete Secretary of State audit here: tinyurl.com/M110audit. That report is the source of those quotes in the first sentence of this editorial.
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In a state with the “second highest rate of substance use disorders,” in a state that ranks dead last in access to treatment, in a state where more than two people died each day “from unintentional opioid overdoses,” it’s right to try something new.
Apparently Oregon didn't think enough people were living under the scourge of drug abuse and dying. Bravo Oregon, job well done!? Now more people are using and dying than before.... It seems to me that when you have a losing track record because you are clueless, perhaps you should learn where you are wrong before tilting at windmills.
Regarding voters waking up, here’s an example. For decades Morrow County officials, elected of course by voters, have repeatedly told DEQ to p1ss up a rope when asked to control dangerous insecticides and fertilizers on their farms and ranches. The jurisdiction for environmental contamination is primarily CountyState. Now that decades of nitrates have poisoned THEIR drinking water they DEMAND that the federal government do something about it… and right now!
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Tell the Bend City Council what you think. You can email councilors at council@bendoregon.gov. If it decides to get involved, we think it should reach out to TC Energy to allow the company to present its perspective.
(4) comments
In a state with the “second highest rate of substance use disorders,” in a state that ranks dead last in access to treatment, in a state where more than two people died each day “from unintentional opioid overdoses,” it’s right to try something new.
Apparently Oregon didn't think enough people were living under the scourge of drug abuse and dying. Bravo Oregon, job well done!? Now more people are using and dying than before.... It seems to me that when you have a losing track record because you are clueless, perhaps you should learn where you are wrong before tilting at windmills.
It was an out of state plan, funded almost entirely by DC-based Drug Policy Alliance.
The plan was to make Oregon a large enough Petri dish to see if they could sell lies of “decriminalization.”
Now three years later, it is an unmitigated disaster, even Demo SecState Fagan gave it a D, and that was generous.
Worst overdose rate in US, lowest access to treatment.
39 Oxy when pulled over? Eighth time. No problem.
Ignore the ticket.
Everyone else does and nothing happens.
And these same bureaucrats want to run your total healthcare system. Wake up voters.
Regarding voters waking up, here’s an example. For decades Morrow County officials, elected of course by voters, have repeatedly told DEQ to p1ss up a rope when asked to control dangerous insecticides and fertilizers on their farms and ranches. The jurisdiction for environmental contamination is primarily CountyState. Now that decades of nitrates have poisoned THEIR drinking water they DEMAND that the federal government do something about it… and right now!
Thick with hypocrisy, humans are.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.