Decriminalization of drug possession in Oregon: Analysis and early lessons
Open accessAbstract
In November 2020, Oregon voters approved Measure 110, a ballot initiative that decriminalized possession of small quantities of all drugs and allocated hundreds of millions of dollars annually to health services for people who use drugs. Implementation of Measure 110 is ongoing, but several effects are noticeable in the first two years since the measure passed. Among these are substantial decreases in possession of controlled substances arrests and an infusion of funding into harm reduction services that have not traditionally enjoyed a sustainable funding source. This paper analyzes the provisions of Measure 110, examines its early impacts, successes, and challenges, and outlines lessons that jurisdictions contemplating decriminalizing drug possession in the U.S. and globally should consider.
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The majority of funds to expand M110 services were not disbursed by the Oregon Health Authority until after August 2022 (18 months after the law took effect).
“Because the majority of the funds to expand these services were not disbursed by the Oregon Health Authority until after August 202211 (18 months after the law took effect), analyses that rely primarily on data between February 1, 2021, and August 31, 2022, only assess the decriminalization component of M110.”
From Drug Decriminalization, Fentanyl, and Fatal Overdoses in Oregon (2024) · cites this paper as [11]
M110 had two components: decriminalization and substantial expansion of substance use disorder treatment, recovery, housing, and harm reduction services.
“It is worth noting that M110 had 2 components: (1) decriminalization and (2) substantial expansion of substance use disorder treatment, recovery, housing, and harm reduction services.”
From Drug Decriminalization, Fentanyl, and Fatal Overdoses in Oregon (2024) · cites this paper as [11]
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- Authors
- Russoniello, K., Vakharia, S. P., Netherland, J., Naidoo, T., Wheelock, H., Hurst, T., & Rouhani, S.
- Affiliations
- Drug Policy Alliance (US)
- Outside In, Portland, OR, USA
- Health Justice Recovery Alliance, Portland, OR, USA
- New York University (US)
- Venue
- Drug Science, Policy and Law
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2023-01
- Volume
- 9
- ISSN
- 2050-3245 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4362684706
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 5
- FWCI
- 18.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Drug Science Policy and Law (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Criminal Law and Policy
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Keywords
- drug policy reform, harm reduction funding, drug arrests, drug users, harm reduction services, drug policy implementation
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