City of Portland to work with state following unanimous passage of open-use drug ban

The Portland City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to ban the use of hard drugs in public spaces, but the measure cannot be enforced without a change to state law.

In a 5-0 vote, the city council prohibited the use of drugs such as fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine on public property. Those found in violation of the new emergency ordinance could face up to six months in jail or a $500 fine, the Oregonian reported.

However, the city’s new measure cannot be enforced unless there is a change to current state law, which prevents cities and municipalities from regulating public drug use.

In 2020, the state’s voters passed Measure 110, the Drug Addiction and Recovery Act, which decriminalized the possession of small amounts of hard drugs. The measure also redirected marijuana taxes to fund overdose prevention and recovery housing. – NYP