Oregon 1st state to decriminalize possession of drugs

Source: AP

Police in Oregon can no longer arrest someone for possession of small amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, oxycodone and other drugs as a ballot measure that decriminalized them took effect on Monday.

Instead, those found in possession would face a $100 fine or a health assessment that could lead to addiction counseling.

Backers of the ballot measure, which Oregon voters passed by a wide margin in November, hailed it as a revolutionary move for the United States.

“Today, the first domino of our cruel and inhumane war on drugs has fallen, setting off what we expect to be a cascade of other efforts centering health over criminalization,” said Kassandra Frederique, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, which spearheaded the ballot initiative.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/oregon-decriminalize-drug-possession-6843f93c3d55212e0ffbdd8b93be9196

Volunteers deliver signed petitions in favor of Oregon Ballot Measure 110 last June.

Ballot Measure 110’s backers said treatment needs to be the priority and that criminalizing drug possession was not working.

Besides facing the prospect of being locked up, having a criminal record makes it difficult to find housing and jobs and can haunt a person for a lifetime.

Myanmar's military seizes power in coup, detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi urges revolt

Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Myanmar's civilian government, urged people across the country to rise up and oppose a military takeover that saw the army take control of the country Monday.

Suu Kyi and other leading officials were detained earlier, the day before legislators elected in November were due to start a new parliamentary term in office.

"I urge people not to accept this, to respond and wholeheartedly to protest against the coup by the military," according to a statement that carried Suu Kyi's name but not her signature. "Only the people are important."

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party (NLD) won 83% of votes in November's election and the country's election commission has rejected allegations of impropriety. The army has declared state of emergency for a year and says it will hold elections after that.

Military leader Min Aung-Hliang will now head the government, according to Myawaddy TV, which is controlled by the army. The military said it seized control of the Asian country of 55 million in response to "election fraud."

At: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/aung-san-suu-kyi-urges-people-resist-military-coup-n1256316