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   From: yourdime@outlook.com   
      
   SALEM, Ore. -- Oregon's Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek on Monday signed into   
   law a bill that recriminalizes the possession of small amounts of drugs,   
   ending a first-in-the-nation experiment with decriminalization that was   
   hobbled by implementation issues.   
      
   The new law rolls back a 2020 voter-approved measure by making so-called   
   personal use possession a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in   
   jail. It also establishes ways for treatment to be offered as an   
   alternative to criminal penalties by encouraging law enforcement agencies   
   to create deflection programs that would divert people to addiction and   
   mental health services instead of the criminal justice system.   
      
   In a signing letter, Kotek said the law's success will depend on “deep   
   coordination” between courts, police, prosecutors, defense attorneys and   
   local mental health providers, describing them as “necessary partners to   
   achieve the vision for this legislation.”   
      
   Measure 110, approved by voters with 58% support in 2020, made the   
   personal use possession of illicit drugs such as heroin, cocaine and   
   methamphetamine only punishable by a ticket and a maximum fine of $100.   
   Supporters said treatment is more effective than jail in helping people   
   overcome addiction and that the decadeslong approach of arresting people   
   for possessing and using drugs hasn’t worked.   
      
   The law directed hundreds of millions of dollars of the state’s cannabis   
   tax revenue toward addiction services. But the money was slow to get out   
   the door and health authorities, already grappling with the COVID-19   
   pandemic, struggled to stand up the new treatment system, state auditors   
   found. At the same time, the fentanyl crisis began to spark an increase in   
   deadly overdoses.   
      
   Those pressures prompted Oregon Democrats to shift their stance on   
   decriminalization policy in recent months.   
      
   Some who historically supported the measure voted for the new law during   
   this year's short legislative session. While other Democratic lawmakers   
   opposed the measure, concerned it would result in more arrests and   
   exacerbate social inequities, it ultimately passed the Democrat-controlled   
   Legislature last month.   
      
   GOP leaders had long sought to overhaul Measure 110. After Kotek's   
   signing, House Minority Leader Jeff Helfrich said the law illustrated how   
   Republicans "stood united and forced Democrats” to restore criminal   
   penalties.   
      
   The changes take effect Sept. 1.   
      
   https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/oregon-governor-signs-bill-   
   recriminalizing-drug-possession-law-108724007   
      
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