- Police give $100 tickets instead of jail under 2020 law in Oregon
- Proponents believe the law ‘treats substance use as a public health issue’
- A downtown business owner tells NewsNation the bill has backfired
Updated: AUG 15, 2023 / 08:30 PM CDT
(NewsNation) — Nearly three years ago, Oregon passed a reform bill called the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act (Measure 110).
Small amounts of drugs like cocaine, heroin and meth are decriminalized in Oregon, and instead of arresting drug users, police have been handing out $100 tickets for small offenses.
One downtown business owner tells NewsNation that the bill has backfired, and Portland is now a “tourist destination for drugs.”FBI: Oregon kidnap suspect’s behavior had been ‘escalating’
“We’re now feeling the ramifications of meth and fentanyl, and it’s really affecting our city,” said Lisa Schroeder, executive chef and owner of Mother’s Bistro and Bar.