Measure 110 - How to Fix the Failures
As seen in The Bulletin - 11/21/2023
As seen in The Bulletin - 11/21/2023
Addiction and mental illness are devastating and complex problems. Measure 110 makes them incredibly more devastating and complex. It’s time for the Legislature to fix it.
The Bulletin and many other news outlets across the state and nation have detailed the many tragic failings of Measure 110, which decriminalized the possession of hard drugs. I won’t recount them here. By now, every semi-conscious Oregonian knows that Measure 110 is an abject failure. However, not everyone is willing to do what it takes to correct the devastating impacts of this poorly conceived and abysmally executed measure.
Our past and present governors have not taken material action. The State Legislature failed to meaningfully address the failings of 110 in the 2023 session. In a recent panel discussion of Central Oregon leaders decrying the adverse consequences of Measure 110, I asked Democrat Representative Levy this question, “Since you and every other legislator have known for a couple years that Measure 110 was a disaster, why didn’t you take decisive action this year to address it?” Her answer: “We didn’t have the will or the votes to do so.”
The “we” who did not have the will and the votes are the Democrat majority that dominate Oregon State politics. Republicans have always opposed 110. Republicans have always had the will to address the problems. Democrat legislators cared about many things far less critical than 110, but they didn’t care enough about the people suffering from the consequences of 110 to fix it. Otherwise, they would have done so.
Their arguments against fixing it? “Give it more time.” “It’s the will of the people.” And, oh yes, under the surface is the money and political support for 110 from the special interests who profit from the burgeoning addiction, mental health, and homeless political bureaucracies, which now are Oregon’s fastest-growing, taxpayer-funded industries.
The failures of 110 are clear. The more time we give it, the worse things get. It is definitely NOT the “will of the people” to see family, friends and fellow Oregonians frying their brains, suffering and dying addicted, sick and homeless on the streets and in the forests of our state. If we have the will, we can fix this. Here’s where to start.
1. Democrat “Won’t” must become Democrat Will. Unless Democrat leaders decide to fix 110, it won’t happen. Responsibility for the failures and for solving the problems rests with the people in charge. A special session should be called immediately.
2. A Drug Free Oregon. The Legislature must fund and empower the law enforcement and judicial system to make Oregon a seriously unsafe place for drug dealers. The probabilities of arrest, prosecution and severe penalties must increase so dramatically that the flow of drugs into our state slows from a torrent to a trickle. Partial funding should come from the Measure 110 diversion of marijuana taxes. Our goal should be to keep people off drugs. Thus, reducing supply is as important as a well-designed and properly-funded treatment system.
3. Repeal Decriminalization. Possession and public use of hard drugs must again become a crime. Treatment or jail should be the choice given to those arrested for possession and use. We must immediately re-impose consequences for hard drug use. There are proven pathways to doing this firmly, but compassionately, such as community-based diversion approaches like the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD®) program. For information on the LEAD® model, visit https://leadbureau.org.
4. Put Treatment under Local Control. Clearly there is an unmet need for detox, rehabilitation and treatment. Funding provided for this should continue, but controlling the administration of the funding at the state level by the Oregon Health Authority has been (no surprise) a bureaucratic disaster. Rather than State control, funds should simply flow to the counties to administer more efficiently and effectively according to local requirements.
Our past and present governors have not taken material action. The State Legislature failed to meaningfully address the failings of 110 in the 2023 session. In a recent panel discussion of Central Oregon leaders decrying the adverse consequences of Measure 110, I asked Democrat Representative Levy this question, “Since you and every other legislator have known for a couple years that Measure 110 was a disaster, why didn’t you take decisive action this year to address it?” Her answer: “We didn’t have the will or the votes to do so.”
The “we” who did not have the will and the votes are the Democrat majority that dominate Oregon State politics. Republicans have always opposed 110. Republicans have always had the will to address the problems. Democrat legislators cared about many things far less critical than 110, but they didn’t care enough about the people suffering from the consequences of 110 to fix it. Otherwise, they would have done so.
Their arguments against fixing it? “Give it more time.” “It’s the will of the people.” And, oh yes, under the surface is the money and political support for 110 from the special interests who profit from the burgeoning addiction, mental health, and homeless political bureaucracies, which now are Oregon’s fastest-growing, taxpayer-funded industries.
The failures of 110 are clear. The more time we give it, the worse things get. It is definitely NOT the “will of the people” to see family, friends and fellow Oregonians frying their brains, suffering and dying addicted, sick and homeless on the streets and in the forests of our state. If we have the will, we can fix this. Here’s where to start.
1. Democrat “Won’t” must become Democrat Will. Unless Democrat leaders decide to fix 110, it won’t happen. Responsibility for the failures and for solving the problems rests with the people in charge. A special session should be called immediately.
2. A Drug Free Oregon. The Legislature must fund and empower the law enforcement and judicial system to make Oregon a seriously unsafe place for drug dealers. The probabilities of arrest, prosecution and severe penalties must increase so dramatically that the flow of drugs into our state slows from a torrent to a trickle. Partial funding should come from the Measure 110 diversion of marijuana taxes. Our goal should be to keep people off drugs. Thus, reducing supply is as important as a well-designed and properly-funded treatment system.
3. Repeal Decriminalization. Possession and public use of hard drugs must again become a crime. Treatment or jail should be the choice given to those arrested for possession and use. We must immediately re-impose consequences for hard drug use. There are proven pathways to doing this firmly, but compassionately, such as community-based diversion approaches like the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD®) program. For information on the LEAD® model, visit https://leadbureau.org.
4. Put Treatment under Local Control. Clearly there is an unmet need for detox, rehabilitation and treatment. Funding provided for this should continue, but controlling the administration of the funding at the state level by the Oregon Health Authority has been (no surprise) a bureaucratic disaster. Rather than State control, funds should simply flow to the counties to administer more efficiently and effectively according to local requirements.
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Addiction and mental illness are devastating and complex problems. Measure 110 makes them incredibly more devastating and complex. It’s time for the Legislature to fix it.
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Addiction and mental illness are devastating and complex problems. Measure 110 makes them incredibly more devastating and complex. It’s time for the Legislature to fix it. |
Michael Sipe is a local business consultant.
