"Oregon Governor Set to Recriminalize Possession of Illicit Drugs, Emphasize Treatment Expansion"

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek will sign House Bill 4002 into law, reversing portions of Measure 110 and recriminalizing possession of small amounts of drugs like fentanyl and heroin, with offenders facing up to six months in jail or the option of drug treatment. The move comes amid a fentanyl state of emergency in downtown Portland and a tripling of opioid deaths in Oregon between 2019 and 2022. While some celebrate the step toward addressing the fentanyl-fueled drug overdose crisis, critics argue that recriminalization will disproportionately harm communities of color.