Oregon Lawmakers Reconsider Drug Decriminalization Amid Public Use Concerns

Oregon Democratic lawmakers are proposing a bill to reverse part of the state's pioneering drug decriminalization law, aiming to recriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs as a low-level misdemeanor in response to public backlash amid a fentanyl crisis. The bill also seeks to make it easier to prosecute drug dealers, improve access to addiction treatment medication, and prevent discrimination against those using medication in housing. The proposed changes come after the state experienced a surge in overdose deaths following the passage of the decriminalization law, with the new bill facing both support and opposition from various stakeholders.