Coke, smack, ice, and more.
Oregon has become the first state to vote in favor of decriminalizing possession of small amounts of seriously dangerous street drugs, like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine (59-41%).
It's all part of a radically progressive movement away from criminal consequence to what they are calling "a humane, cost-effective, health approach."
The Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act reads, in part:
Whereas, Oregon needs to shift its focus to addressing drugs through a humane, cost-effective, health approach. People suffering from addiction are more effectively treated with health care services than with criminal punishments. ...
And:
Whereas, punishing people who are suffering from addiction ruins lives. Criminalizing drugs saddles people with criminal records. ...
Instead of incarceration for possession of small amounts of these notorious narcotics (less than 1 gram of heroin or MDMA; 2 grams of cocaine or methamphetamine; 12 grams of psilocybin mushrooms; and 40 doses of LSD, oxycodone or methadone), offenders will be served up a token fine ("up to" $100) and offered addiction support.
The state will even waive the fine if the offender agrees to evaluation at a drug center.
So how do they intend to pay for all these support services?
Why, through the state's ample marijuana tax revenue, of course — a whopping $100 million annually.
"Today's victory is a landmark declaration that the time has come to stop criminalizing people for drug use," said Kassandra Frederique, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, which backed the measure.
No penalties, virtually no fines, and drug sales paying for drug programs … what could possibly go wrong?
