Oregon Coalition Files Ballot Initiative to Change Measure 110
By Joe Hathaway on Tuesday, September 19th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
PORTLAND — A new statewide coalition has filed a ballot initiative with the intent of bringing changes to Measure 110.
Measure 110, which passed in 2020, decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, reclassifying them as civil violations rather than criminal offenses. It also allocates funding for addiction treatment and recovery services using a portion of the state’s marijuana tax revenue.
According to the ‘Fix Ballot Measure 110′ coalition, they are looking to ban hard drug use in public, make addiction treatment a requirement instead of voluntary, and classify fentanyl, meth, and heroin possession as a crime again, among other things.
“Measure 110 didn’t cause Oregon’s addiction and overdose crisis, but it is making them worse,” said Max Williams, a former state lawmaker, leading ‘Fix Ballot Measure 110.’ “Oregon’s experiment with easy access to lethal drugs combined with lack of treatment capacity, and no credible consequences to incentivize users to seek help simply isn’t working.”
Key provisions included in the group’s ballot initiatives:
- Prohibits the use of hard drugs in public places.
- Makes possession of lethal drugs like fentanyl, meth, and heroin a crime again.
- Replaces voluntary with required addiction treatment.
- Prioritizes diversion, treatment, and recovery over prosecution and jail.
- Maintains cannabis taxes for expanded prevention, treatment, and recovery.
- Strengthens program oversight and accountability.
- Strengthen penalties against drug dealing.
“We can fix and improve Measure 110 at the ballot box next year, or the Governor and legislature can make this initiative unnecessary and save lives by acting on it much sooner. Oregon’s experiment with easy access to lethal drugs combined with lack of treatment capacity, and no credible consequences to incentivize users to seek help simply isn’t working,” continued Williams.
The ballot initiative was filed on Monday, September 18. Read the full ballot initiative text on the group’s website.
“Measure 110 is a problem for both urban and rural Oregon that we should fix with this initiative,” said Jackson County Sheriff Nate Sickler, a chief petitioner. “Law enforcement, along with professional addiction services, should work together to help people escape the dangerous drugs that are killing our kids, our family members, and our neighbors. We also need to toughen laws against drug dealing. This ballot measure will do both. Let’s fix Measure 110 with stronger incentives and consequences to save lives and improve public safety.”
