PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – It’s official: Drug possession is once again illegal in Oregon.
The state’s new drug law to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of hard drugs went into effect on Sunday, effectively reversing the voter-approved Measure 110 that has been the subject of controversy for years.
The new law, House Bill 4002, gives people the choice between being charged and treatment when they are caught carrying drugs like fentanyl and meth. Treatment includes completing a behavioral health screening and participating in a “deflection program” in order to sidestep fines.
So far, the Portland Police Bureau has reported four arrests and one citation in and around downtown Portland. Of the several people contacted, two were eligible for deflection by HB 4002’s standards.
The ages of those arrested and cited ranged from 37 to 52 years old, according to PPB’s report.
Adults who are found with small amounts of controlled drugs are eligible for deflection only if they have no other charges, warrants, or holds, are medically stable and non-violent, and can agree to deflection instead of jail.
If a person meets these requirements, officers will call the county’s deflection dispatch line to provide basic information, determine eligibility and connect them to a mobile behavioral health outreach team that will have 30 minutes to make contact.
These mobile outreach teams will take on the deflection process while Multnomah County finalizes plans for its deflection center that was recently put on pause through mid- to late October. The push was the result of a lack of staffing, though county leaders said they also hope to bolster community support for the site at 900 SE Pine Street.
Those who are offered deflection will be required to answer all peer questions, sign a release, accept referrals to services, and engage with at least one service within 30 days. If they fail, they will not be eligible for deflection — and could be arrested if caught with drugs again within the same 30 day window.
However, law enforcement can only offer deflection from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday and Monday for the holiday weekend before officers shift to a schedule of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday due to the county’s limited behavioral health availability.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.
