Oregon Set to Recriminalize Possesion of Small Amounts of Drugs Like Fentanyl and Heroin

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek will sign House Bill 4002, recriminalizing possession of small amounts of drugs like fentanyl and heroin as misdemeanors. This reverses parts of Measure 110 from 2020, which had decriminalized various hard drugs. The bill, passed with bipartisan support, focuses on balancing addiction treatment and accountability. Offenders can choose between jail time, up to six months, or drug treatment. The law comes into effect on September 1, following a state of emergency declaration in Portland due to a significant increase in opioid deaths, particularly related to fentanyl.