"Oregon Governor Signs Bill Recriminalizing Drug Possession: What Comes Next?"

Oregon will revert back to criminalizing drug possession, including fentanyl, after a bipartisan vote in the Legislature ended the state's brief experiment with drug decriminalization. The new law, House Bill 4002, allows for the prosecution of drug dealing and aims to facilitate access to medications for opioid addiction. The bill also introduces deflection programs, giving local governments, police, and prosecutors the option to divert individuals found with small amounts of drugs away from arrest and prosecution and into treatment. The changes are set to take effect on September 1, with the state allocating $211 million for deflection programs and other services.