A recent ACLU poll shows Oregonians strongly support reducing drug sentences, prompting a task force from the Attorney General’s office to introduce a new bill to remove felony punishments for small-scale drug possession.
As momentum picks up across the country to just say #NoMoreDrugWar, this is very encouraging news. Treating addicts like criminals has been an utter failure in our country for far too long. It’s time that we start to treat drug use as a health issue and not a criminal one.
Often, small time drug offenders are charged with a felony. As a felon myself, I’ve referred to a felony label as the “scarlet letter F”. Being a felon makes it harder to get a job, get school loans and exist in society. I remember after coaching my sons soccer team for 4 months being asked to fill out an official application so I could continue coaching. It was one of the most devastating messages I’ve ever received when I was told I could no longer coach my sons soccer team because I was a felon- for growing marijuana.
Having a felony conviction on your record for a drug offense is an incredible burden on families and all of society. It is good to see Oregon heading in the right direction. #NoMoreDrugWar
Press event and more details tomorrow at 11 am.:
New bill, supported by the AG’s office, would reduce punishments for drug users
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What’s news:
- The ACLU of Oregon tomorrow will release poll results showing Oregonians overwhelmingly support reducing penalties for small-scale drug possession.
- The poll also has many details about how Oregonians think about criminal justice.
- A task force from the Attorney General’s office has introduced a new bill to remove felony punishments for small-scale drug possession.
- The ACLU of Oregon also backs the bill.
Visuals/Story angles:
- Press conference: 15-minute briefing on the poll, new bill.
- Real people with compelling, verifiable stories about how felony drug sentences impacted their lives.
- Visuals including four large posters illustrating key poll results.
- A rare glimpse into drug recovery: Attendees can show their viewers how drug recovery in Oregon is often done.
When/Where:
- Tomorrow, Wednesday, 11 a.m. at the 4th Dimension Recovery Center, 3807 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland, Ore. 97217. Parking is in the back of the building.
Additional Resources:
- A full press release will be sent out tomorrow.
- We will also provide those who attend the press event with a memo about the poll, information about the bill that has been introduced.
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