In November 2020, Oregon residents voted to pass Measure 110 decriminalizing personal drug use in the state. The ballot initiative, which went into effect in early 2021, was supported by advocates who believe that the costly war on drugs unfairly targets people of color and does very little in the way of making a difference regarding drug use as a whole.
This came nearly six years after the state legalized recreational marijuana resulting in a noticeable dip in crime within the region. On the heels of a tumultuous year leading up to the election, the passing of this measure can be viewed as a significant step toward social justice and much needed progressive reform.
The “War on Drugs,” which was adopted during the Nixon administration in 1971, has perpetuated racist practices and furthered the divide between predominantly black communities and law enforcement in the five decades since its inception. On average, people of color are incarcerated five times more often for drug-related crimes than their white counterparts despite there not being a significant disparity of use between the two populations.
Not only does this create an unfair bias that paints black and brown communities as lawless and dangerous, but it also serves to strengthen the systemic racism that already exists within the country. Refocusing efforts to combat drug use by approaching it as a medical issue rather than a criminal one not only encourages those who suffer from addiction to seek help but also addresses the root issue of underlying racism that exists within the War on Drugs in the first place with the added bonus of saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
In 2015 alone, the United States spent 9.2 million dollars daily to incarcerate drug offenders. The following year, similar measures cost the state of Oregon 400 million dollars that could have otherwise been spent on programs that aid in community development.
Reallocating fiscal resources from practices that unfairly target low-income areas and putting them towards programs that create a lasting and positive impact does more to develop a healthier populace than the war on drugs ever has. Allowing citizens to make their own choices about drug use frees up officials to address public health issues that impact communities on a much larger scale. Drug abusers in dire need of help are more likely to seek treatment in areas where the risk of prison time is off the table, effectively helping to lower the rate of long-term drug abuse as a whole.
Points in favor of decriminalizing drugs to support communities aren’t just nice thoughts for what a perfect world could look like. Instead, they’re based on examples from other countries that’ve adopted similar practices over the years. Switzerland, Portugal, Czechia, and the Netherlands have all decriminalized drug use for citizens and seen a sweeping reform in how they assess and address the mental and physical health of their citizens. While each country offers examples of the benefits of this practice, the Netherlands are often used as the token case study for why decriminalization works.
Taking the example of the Netherlands, specifically, and looking at the reduction in other community issues (like crime and infection rates) in the aftermath of decriminalizing drugs certainly seems to offer a lot of hope to Oregonians who were in favor of this legislation. With a greater focus on addiction treatment programs and access to mental health access, the state will be better equipped to assist those who suffer from addiction than they otherwise would by simply labeling them as criminals. It’s time for more states to put antiquated, racist, costly policies to bed in order for true progress to take place.
Measure 110 was the right move for the state of Oregon and will hopefully set the tone for more states to follow. Decriminalization works. Decriminalization saves lives.
