On Tuesday night, a number of states voted in favor of decriminalizing drugs in an unprecedented drug law overhaul (article available here).
Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota, voted to decriminalize recreational marijuana. Meanwhile, in Mississippi and South Dakota, medical marijuana will be legalized – taking the tally of states that have legalized marijuana up to fifteen. And in Washington DC, psychedelic plants will be decriminalized.
In Oregon, all illegal drugs – including heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines – will be decriminalized, meanwhile psilocybin, or psychoactive mushrooms, will be legalized for therapeutic use – a historic first. Mimicking successful pilots in Europe, the initiative in Oregon places an emphasis on treating addiction as a health issue. Instead of jail time, those found in possession of drugs will have the option to either pay a $100 fine, or sign up for treatment services.
Proponents of the measures are hopeful that the changes will reduce overdose deaths; reduce racial disparities in drug sentencing and arrests; and drastically improve services for drug users across the country. The Drug Policy Alliance, which drafted and funded the measures in Oregon, say that $100m could be saved per year through its Measure 110, in law enforcement savings (from reduced arrests and incarceration) and increased tax revenue from drugs sales. That money will be funneled towards treatment and social services for drug users – such as addiction recovery centers, housing and healthcare.