Oregon Governor Signs Bill Reintroducing Criminal Penalties for Drug Possession

Gov. Tina Kotek on Monday signed House Bill 4002, the law reintroducing criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of drugs, and urged those charged with its implementation to prioritize deflection programs.

Starting Sept. 1, Class E violations — created by Measure 110, which eliminated criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of illicit drugs — are repealed under HB4002. Instead, a person with small amounts of illicit drugs will face a new “drug enforcement misdemeanor."

The bill passed with bipartisan support as drug overdose deaths in the state continued to rise.