Oregon passes law decriminalizing possession of heroin, cocaine [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Oregon voters claimed victory as Oregon became the first US state to allow small possession of hard drugs.
• Four US states ━ Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota ━ also passed a measure that permits the recreational use of cannabis.
• The passing of drug laws aimed to expand its use for medical purposes and relax the judicial consequences of hard drugs possession.

In a national crusade to loosen up drug laws in the US, the state of Oregon on Tuesday marked the first time to allow possessing a modest amount of hard drugs. Four states  ━ Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota ━ have also passed a law authorizing the recreational use of marijuana.

The four aforementioned states would be added to the 11 other states and the District of Columbia that have already regulated the use of cannabis. A medical cannabis measure was also passed in Mississippi. Currently, the use of cannabis at a nationwide level is still illegal.

The win in New Jersey would anticipate the opening of the largest weed market on the east coast, and one of the country’s largest markets. This puts neighboring states such as New York to undergo the same procedure.

Meanwhile, in Oregon, voters made a historic move by decriminalizing the use of hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and LSD. The state also passed a measure that would legalize the medical use of psychedelic mushrooms.

In Arizona, the measure would allow possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for adults. A licensing system would also be placed for retailers. The state also has operational medical-marijuana infirmaries.

In Montana, a measure was passed that would allow drug sales by January 2022.

In 2016, South Dakota, which was once strongly opposed use of cannabis for medical-related procedures, has now legalized marijuana for both medical and recreational use.

With a $100 fine and orientation to an addiction recovery program, arrested people in Oregon carrying small amounts of hard drugs can skip court trial. The treatment facilities will be maintained through the revenues made from decriminalizing marijuana, a move that was enacted years ago.

By treating the possession of such drugs as a citation and expansion to available treatment and recovery, the regulation, supported by concerned reform groups, was looking to refrain people from getting imprisoned. It was also made to mitigate the ‘drug war’ repercussions, especially that authorities have mainly charged black and brown people for drug-related crimes.

According to Drug Policy Alliance executive director Kassandra Frederique, who supported the measure, the victory was “a landmark declaration that the time has come to stop criminalizing people for drug use.”

Source: The Guardian