Portland Mayor Proposes Ban on Public Drug Use, Faces Mixed Reactions from Community

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is proposing an ordinance that would outlaw the public consumption of hard drugs, including fentanyl, and impose criminal penalties. However, readers have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of criminalizing drug use and the need for more resources for prevention, treatment, and enforcement. Some argue that addiction is a disease and making it a crime is not a cure. Others worry about the impact on an already understaffed police force and the criminal justice system.