Oregon Rolls Back Drug Decriminalization Amid Rise in Overdose Deaths

The bill, dubbed HB 4002, was passed by the state Senate in a 21–8 vote on March 1.

A man prepares heroin he bought on the street to be injected at the Insite safe injection clinic in Vancouver, B.C., on May 11, 2011. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

Oregon lawmakers on March 1 approved a measure to recriminalize the possession of drugs, reversing the state’s first-in-the-nation drug decriminalization law, which has been in place for three years, amid a rising overdose crisis.

The bill, dubbed HB 4002, was approved by the state Senate in a 21–8 vote, with support from both Democrats and Republicans. It awaits the signature of Gov. Tina Kotek, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.