Starting Sunday, Oregon’s ill-fated experiment with drug decriminalization ends.
The closely scrutinized first-in-the-nation law put minor drug possession on par with a traffic ticket and now enters its final stretch.
The law, approved by voters in 2020, set out to both decriminalize low-level drug possession and infuse the state’s treatment system with hundreds of millions of dollars from cannabis tax revenue.
People with Measure 110 citations have had the option to pay a $100 fine through the court system — or call a helpline for a substance abuse screening in exchange for waiving their citation.
Few people did either, the data shows.
The near-final tally of data related to Measure 110 tells the story of a law that was selectively enforced and, when it came to citations, proved limited in its effectiveness.
Over time, the public lost confidence in the law. A glacial rollout did little to bulk up anemic treatment options and the emergence of a ruthlessly lethal synthetic opioid — fentanyl — led to spiraling overdose deaths and pockets of blight from public drug use.
Here’s circuit court data collected by the Oregon Judicial Department since Measure 110 went into effect on Feb. 1, 2021, through Monday:
What was the total amount in fines imposed by Oregon circuit courts on people cited and convicted under Measure 110? $899,413.
How much of that did the state collect? $78,143.
What was the conviction rate for people with citations? 89% — mostly because people failed to show up in court.
How many people were cited under Measure 110 statewide? 7,227.
How many people completed the substance abuse screening, which allowed them to avoid a conviction? 85.
What drug drew the most citations? Methamphetamine (54%).
How did other street drugs rank? Fentanyl and other so-called Schedule II drugs came in second (31%). The federal government classifies controlled substances into schedules; generally, Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse.
Statewide, police cited people at much lower rates for heroin (7%), oxycodone (3%) and cocaine (1%).
How many people in Multnomah County got Measure 110 citations? 1,917.
What percentage were convicted? 93%. In nearly every case, the conviction stemmed from a failure to show up in court.
How many people cited in Mutnomah County completed the substance abuse screening? 16.
Which police agency issued the most citations? Medford, with 2,036.
How many of those were linked to methamphetamine possession? 1,260.
Which agency came in second? Oregon State Police, with 1,756.
How many of those were linked to methamphetamine? 823. Fentanyl and other Schedule II drugs led to 744 citations.
Which police agency ranked third? Grants Pass, with 1,642. Like Medford and state police, the southern Oregon agency identified methamphetamine as the most common reason for issuing a citation.
Where did the Portland Police Bureau rank? Fourth, with 1,332 citations.
How many of those were linked to fentanyl or other Schedule II drugs? 769.
How many citations did Portland officers issue for methamphetamine possession? 247.
Which agencies issued only a single citation under Measure 110? Willamina, Tillamook, Molalla, Sandy, Silverton, Sublimity, the Warm Springs tribal police and sheriff’s offices in Wasco, Baker, Gilliam, Hood River and Yamhill Counties.
Also issuing just one Measure 110 citation: Gresham police.
The citation numbers for Multnomah County fluctuated over time.
Data shows police agencies issued fewer than 100 citations a quarter until spring 2023 when the number jumped to 435. In the first three months of this year, police issued 507, though the number dropped off after the Legislature rolled back decriminalization.
House Bill 4002 kicks in Sunday, making possession of drugs like fentanyl and methaphetamine a misdemeanor crime.
People caught with street drugs face the prospect of citation or arrest, or depending on where they live in Oregon, the possibility of opting for an alternative to the criminal justice system that emphasizes treatment.
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