"Oregon Reverses Drug Decriminalization, Impact on Portland"

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed a bill into law that reintroduces criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of drugs, effectively ending the state's groundbreaking drug decriminalization law enacted three years ago. The new law, which will go into effect this fall, aims to address rising drug overdose deaths by implementing a "drug enforcement misdemeanor" for possession of illicit drugs. The bill passed with bipartisan support, and counties are working to establish deflection programs to provide alternatives to incarceration for individuals with drug possession charges.