Group files ballot initiative amending Oregon's M110; seeks stricter rules on hard drugs, mandatory treatment & more

PORTLAND, Ore. — A group has filed a ballot initiative to reform Oregon’s Measure 110, the voter-approved law from 2020 that decriminalized certain amounts of hard drugs and opened up more money for addiction treatment.

The so-called “Fix Ballot Measure 110” group said it filed the initiatives Monday as a response to “the growing suffering across Oregon from easy access to hard drugs.”

They are looking to ban hard drug use in public, make addiction treatment a requirement instead of voluntary, and classify fentanyl, meth, and heroin possession as a crime again, among other things.

“We can fix and improve Measure 110 at the ballot box next year, or the Governor and legislature can make this initiative unnecessary and save lives by acting on it much sooner. Oregon’s experiment with easy access to lethal drugs combined with lack of treatment capacity, and no credible consequences to incentivize users to seek help simply isn’t working,” said Max Williams, a former state representative who was also previously president of the Oregon Community Foundation.

Supporters of Measure 110, such as the director of the Health Justice Recovery Alliance, said the issue is not having enough resources at this time.

Tera Hurst said the process to open new treatment centers already started.

"At least two thousand people are on a waitlist for detox right now in Portland. Changing the system and giving folks a fast-track pass to get ahead of those people into detox is not the right solution here. We do not have a demand issue," said Hurst.

KATU asked Hurst how she would respond to concerns about the lack of criminalization for hard drugs.

“I would say it’s more likely that the global pandemic that we all experienced is why the problem got worse, and the increase in houselessness," she said.

The Washington County District Attorney, who supports the petition, responded to concerns about what police intervention would look like.

"If someone does end up in the criminal process, we’re encouraging mandatory diversion, just like we have for drunk driving where people who are charged with the crime of misdemeanor controlled substance would receive treatment and supervision and have their criminal case diverted," said Kevin Barton.

The group behind the petition tells KATU they're currently working with lawmakers to see if this could be voted on in the next session.

If not, it could go to voters through a ballot measure in November 2024.

You can read the full ballot initiative text on the group’s website.

On Tuesday night, KATU News is hosting a Town Hall with M110 supporters and critics, as well as elected officials, police, and community members. Tune in Tuesday at 6 p.m. for “Oregon's Drug Crisis: Is Measure 110 The Answer?”

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Key provisions included in the group's ballot initiatives:

• Prohibits the use of hard drugs in public places.
• Makes possession of lethal drugs like fentanyl, meth, and heroin a crime again.
• Replaces voluntary with required addiction treatment.
• Prioritizes diversion, treatment, and recovery over prosecution and jail.
• Maintains cannabis taxes for expanded prevention, treatment, and recovery.
• Strengthens program oversight and accountability.
• Strengthen penalties against drug dealing.