"Oregon Activists Rally Against Effort to Re-Criminalize Drugs"

Activists in Oregon protested outside the Capitol against lawmakers who voted to re-criminalize possession of small amounts of hard drugs and change voter-approved Measure 110, arguing that the move goes against the will of the people and could lead to a return to harsh "War on Drugs" tactics. While some lawmakers believe the re-criminalization is necessary to address drug-related issues, protesters fear that it will abandon the spirit of Measure 110 and result in more people being sent to jail instead of receiving treatment programs. If signed by Gov. Tina Kotek, the bill would make possession of hard drugs a misdemeanor starting on Sept. 1.