'Bill of lies': Clackamas County commissioners explore overturning Measure 110

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Clackamas County commissioners are debating whether voters are willing to re-criminalize hard drugs in an effort to overturn Measure 110, less than three years after Oregon voters approved it statewide.

The commissioners are exploring an advisory vote for the May 2024 ballot regarding Measure 110, which de-criminalized hard drugs including fentanyl, cocaine and meth in order to funnel money into treatment and recovery programs.

An advisory vote allows voters to give their preference on a topic but does not add to, change or repeal laws already in the books.

However, commissioners say trying to get the advisory on the ballot may be a stretch, with Commissioner Martha Schrader questioning its necessity.

“What I’m questioning is, is this the best process to get what we want? Do we really want to go through the voters?” Commissioner Schrader asked during Wednesday's city council meeting. “We know voters are having buyer’s remorse. Why use the money when we could use it for behavioral health resource networks?”

Other commissioners are weighing the option of getting Oregon Governor Tina Kotek to call a special legislative session or putting their measure on the May ballot after gauging interest from other Oregon counties.

Commissioner Ben West argued, “Local communities have to stand up for their neighborhoods, their schools, their parks, their law enforcement agencies because the legislature and the governor are M.I.A. And stop telling us and selling us a bill of lies. It isn’t working, it has failed. We must change course.”