Illinois should follow Oregon to decriminalize hard drugs

Illinois waited for 10 other states to legalize recreational cannabis before doing so in 2019. Now with a hundred million annual cannabis tax dollars resuscitating Illinois’ pandemic ravaged economy, sensible Illinoisans are pondering ‘What took ya so long?’

But Illinois can snare second place for decriminalizing hard drugs, following the progressive state of Oregon, which implemented its humane policy yesterday. Coppers can no longer arrest folks for possessing small amounts of heroin, meth, LSD and oxycodone. Offenders just get a non life/career threatening $100 ticket, or better yet, a health assessment leading to addiction counseling.

Oregon will use some of the $133 million (and growing) in annual taxes it receives from recreational weed to fund the new counseling services.

Decriminalizing minor possession of hard drugs will not bring in a gold rush of new taxes that legalizing recreational pot did. But it will reduce cost and clog to our already overburdened criminal court system. It will also, no doubt, reduce the number of poor souls relegated to a downward life spiral from current inhumane legal treatment by providing proper medical treatment instead.

If Illinois tries harder….it can be No. 2.