Oregon has been at the forefront of new movements before, often encouraging other states across the country to follow in its footsteps. The state is now gearing up to usher in a new chapter, but this time rather than taking steps forward, Oregon is attempting to backtrack a landmark piece of legislation passed just over three years ago that decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs.

On Friday, the Oregon Legislature passed a bill recriminalizing possession of small amounts of drugs. In a 21-8 vote, the Oregon Senate approved House BIll 4002 after the House passed it 51-7 on Thursday. Now, Gov. Tina Kotek will have the final sign off as the bill heads to her desk. The Senate passed House Bill 5204 with a 27-3 vote on Thursday as well to approve the $211 million in funding, which also heads to Kotek’s desk.

About Oregon Drug Decriminalization Measure 110

“With this bill, we are doubling down on our commitment to make sure Oregonians have access to the treatment and care that they need,” said Democratic Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, of Portland. Lieber, who also co-authored the bill, said that passing the legislation will “be the start of real and transformative change for our justice system.”

In 2020, nearly 60% of Oregon voters passed Measure 110, which decriminalized the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs. While drug sales and manufacturing remained illegal under the legislation, it lowered the penalty for possessing small amounts of drugs to a $100 fine, which could be avoided if an individual agreed to participate in a health assessment.

Additionally, the measure aimed to fund health assessments, addiction treatment, harm-reduction efforts and more services for Oregonians with addiction disorders.

One of the main goals was to treat drug use as a health issue, and advocates also expected the legislation to generate savings in the criminal justice system due to fewer drug arrests, prosecutions and incarcerations. 

However, there’s no predicting how a first-of-its-kind law may pan out in practice or what other variables could come into play.

A Failed Effort?

Despite the intent behind amping up harm reduction resources in Oregon, funding was slow to take effect. In 2021, only 1% of those who received possession citations actually sought health via Oregon’s new hotline. As time went on, many supporters and opponents argued that the measure’s incentives for individuals to enter treatment weren’t strong enough or well enforced.

Additionally, Oregon saw a 1,500% rise in overdose deaths since the start of the pandemic — the steepest increase in the nation — largely due to the broader fentanyl crisis, according to records from the Centers for Disease Control. 

While researchers have argued that it’s too soon to determine whether or not Measure 110’s passing was correlated to the surge in overdoses, the ongoing shortage in affordable housing and uptick in fentanyl use has led to an increase in more visible drug use in public.

Recriminalizing Drugs in Oregon: An Unfamiliar Road Forward

HB 4002 makes the possession of small amounts of illegal drugs a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and enabling police to confiscate drugs and crack down on their public use. Drug treatment could be offered as an alternative to criminal penalties as part of a deflection program.

The bill would also make it easier to prosecute people selling drugs, though it aims to maintain some harm reduction measures like increasing access to addiction medication and helping folks to obtain and keep housing despite use of these medications.

However, the bill leaves it up to each individual county to decide the details of these deflection programs. Counties would also have the option, not a mandate, to set up state-funded deflection programs. It also includes a provision to allow the district attorney to argue before a judge that a person is not a candidate for diversion.

So far, 23 of Oregon’s 35 counties have signaled their intent to set up these programs.

Critics have argued that the reversal isn’t going to curb drug use, rather that it will make it harder for people to quit. Some have also questioned whether the state’s limited criminal justice system was equipped to handle the changes.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Oregon said that the state was rushing the bill and hasn’t undergone the necessary vetting by medical and addiction professionals who could adequately assess the potential drawbacks of such a massive public policy shift.

Opponents have also suggested that the changes will disproportionately affect Black and Latino people. Additionally, a study by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission similarly concluded that the changes would disproportionately impact Black Oregonians specifically, though it noted disparities would be significantly less than before Measure 110 was passed.

“I’m concerned that it (the bill) will attempt to use the same tactics of the past, and fail, only to reinforce the punishment narrative that has failed for 50 years,” echoed Democratic Sen. Lew Frederick of Portland, one of four Black senators.

While Measure 110’s final fate is uncertain, Kotek said in January that she would be open to signing a bill reversing the state’s previous decriminalization measure.

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Arthur Shelby is a troubled soul. The Peaky Blinders character must live under his younger brother, Thomas Shelby’s shadow, and deal with often hard-to-watch, but somehow, relatable, acts of violence, towards both others and himself, self-medicated with drugs and Jesus. And based on recent headlines (in the real world), it appears that, at least for some of such, the actor who plays Arthur, Paul Anderson, opts for Method acting, which aims to foster genuine portrayals by immersing oneself in and embodying the internal motivations and emotions of a character. So, basically, acting like the character off screen as well as when the cameras are rolling. 

As The Guardian reports, Anderson has been fined for possession of drugs. These include crack cocaine, amphetamines, in addition to prescription substances, diazepam (Valium) and pregabalin. The incident occurred on Boxing Day, the party-fueled British holiday that is held the day after Christmas. His lawyer claims that the actor uses the drugs to break into character to please fans who recognize him. 

Where did Anderson land himself into trouble? At his local pub, of course, who contacted the coppers after the bar’s manager noticed “crack cocaine fumes coming from the disabled toilet after the actor walked out,” MailOnline reports. He was with a friend and his baby. 

On Thursday, the 48-year-old actor stood before Highbury Corner magistrates court, facing charges of possessing class A crack cocaine, class B amphetamines, and two types of class C prescription drugs. He admitted to all four counts, resulting in a total fine of £1,345.

Reports indicate that Anderson only spoke to acknowledge his pleas and to verify his identity and north-west London address.

Anderson’s attorney, addressing the court in mitigation, reportedly stated: “You will recognise the defendant from a very intense part that he has played in a recent television programme. He is often recognised and does his best to please fans of the show by slipping into character.

“He was recognised that Boxing Day and tried to play up for these people. And because of the lifestyle he leads people often give him inducements.” The lawyer further noted that Anderson had not been using crack cocaine, but conceded: “He has found himself in an unfortunate position and should have had the strength to say no.”

While this news is hard not to pass on for all the Peaky Blinders fans, there’s a lot to unpack that’s not so funny. First, turning to the U.S., if you want to get angry, remember that while cannabis remains a Schedule I substance, cocaine (even though the sentencing guidelines have historically been much harsher, as the result of laws that tend to lock up more poor than rich folks), is only a Schedule II. And, while we don’t know the exact details of how and when Anderson was using, any stimulant as strong as crack, for the sake of one’s health, should not be paired with amphetamines. 

Diazepam, the brand name of Valium, is a benzodiazepine. It’s in the same anti-anxiety drug class as pills such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Ativan. When benzodiazepines hit the market in the 1960s, chemists thought they’d cured anxiety. However, as is becoming increasingly reported, unlike cannabis for anxiety, such medications are just too easy to develop a physical dependence on when used other than prescribed, which is as-needed, or on a short-term basis. 

While, if you want to take a tolerance break from cannabis, while you might miss it, one can just put down the herb and not think too much about it, with benzos, suddenly stopping them after continued use is no joke, like, comes with risks of seizures if not done correctly. As detailed in the Ashton Manuel, the bible for getting off of benzos, if one is weaning off something like Xanax or Klonopin, it’s actually recommended to switch to Valium and then slowly taper off as it’s less potent and has a longer half-life. As High Times reported, Sub-anesthetic ketamine infusions, which are already used for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), may also help people through benzodiazepine withdrawal, new research published in Neuropsychopharmacology shows.

However, of the substances found, MailOnline reports that Anderson later tested positive for opiates and cocaine (not crack cocaine), the court heard, so while there’s possession charges, we have no idea of the actor’s personal use or medication schedule. But we’re on your side, Arthur Shelby. 

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