Drug Possession Becomes Illegal Again in Oregon as Decriminalization Law Expires

The previous 2020 law was the first in the nation to decriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs, by reducing it from a misdemeanor to a civil violation.

People protest against open drug use in parks outside City Hall in Grants Pass, Ore., on March 20, 2024. AP Photo/Jenny Kane

Oregon’s experiment with drug decriminalization came to an end on Sept. 1, with a law now in effect that re-criminalizes the possession of small amounts of certain drugs in the state.

The law, HB 4002, passed in March, makes the possession of drugs such as fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine for personal use in Oregon a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail.