Voters overwhelmingly supported reform that legalized or decriminalized a variety of drugs.
Experts say that’s good for public health and individual well-being.
Thats not the kind of support that we saw for early marijuana reform.
Decriminalization isnotlegalization, and Oregonians wont be seeing cocaine boutiques popping up next to Starbucks.
(Cannabis, meanwhile, is fully legal in Oregon.)
Possessing large amounts of these drugs and/or trafficking them will remain a criminal offense.
Charles Grob, MD is a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences and pediatrics at UCLA and a psychedelics researcher.
This is a radical approach to addressing a serious problem.
The reform, Sutton explains, was modeled in part after Portugals decriminalization efforts.
The country replaced criminal consequences with access to treatment.
The measures authors didnt just copy and paste what they saw work overseas.
As a result, the treatment program created under the measure will not be a one-size-fits-all solution.
Its really a full range of services to meet peoples needs.
Notably, peopledont have to interact with the policein order to access these services.
Stigma is also reduced when criminalization is eradicated, he explains.
And that encourages more people to seek help.
Charles Grob, MD is a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences and pediatrics at UCLA and a psychedelics researcher.
But these arent the only ways in which community and individual well-being will be improved under these policy changes.
Not much has changed in the decades since.
Communities of color continue to experience a greater number of interactions with police due to current drug policies.
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Disproportionately, these are people of color.
We wouldnt treat any other health condition like that.
Drug use never should have been looked at as something that was criminal.
To be clear, this is different than decriminalizing the substance.
Researchers are currently looking at its potential to treat major depression that is unresponsive to standard antidepressant medications.
He says their mental health improved after treatment, and that subsequentstudiesshowed similar results.
Theres also some gooddatalooking at psilocybins efficacy in treating alcohol abuse, Dr. Grob says.
That said, with such limited data, Dr. Grob feels this legalization may be a bit premature.
Therell be more data out there in two years, says Dr. Grob.
Washington, D.C., also made moves with respect to psilocybin, albeit less sensational ones.
Other cities and states have open bills circulating on the matter.
Mississippi, meanwhile, joined a growing majority of states in legalizing cannabis for medical purposes.
He also points out that this election has illuminated how out of touch state governments can be.
That starts to make legislators look a little tone-deaf because obviously their citizens support legalization.
So, legalization is critical in reducing arrests, harmful interactions with law enforcement, and incarceration rates.
This isnt to say that legalization isnt without risks.
Were really excited for whats to come next, he says.
There are efforts underway in Washington and Vermont, too.
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