Maine Assembly votes to decriminalize all drugs

Six months after legalized the sale of cannabis, Maine is considering decriminalizing the use of all drugs, including cocaine and heroin. This Democratic proposal—known as LD 967—was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 77 to 62. It must now be approved by the Democratic-majority Senate and then signed by the governor.

This article comes amid a serious public health crisis. In this U.S. state with a population of 1.3 million, 502 people died of an overdose in 2020. A tragic record, due in particular to fentanyl, a an opioid 100 times stronger than morphine.

«In my work as a nurse, I’ve been serving a community devastated by overdoses for more than twenty years. I’m on the front lines and understand firsthand that treating drug use as a crime has created suffering that spans generations. I’ve seen many people get lost in the criminal justice system, rather than receiving the medical care they desperately need,», "laments Democratic Representative Anne Perry, who authored the bill,".

A $100 fine or mandatory treatment

If LD 967 becomes law, Maine residents arrested for drug possession will have to pay a $100 fine. Alternatively, if the state requires it, they may be required to undergo treatment within one month of their arrest. The northeastern state would be following Oregon’s example, became the first state to decriminalize drugs in 2020.

But the bill faces significant opposition. First, Democratic Governor Janet Mills is against it. And her approval is essential, since her signature is required for a bill to become law. Other opponents include law enforcement officials, Republican lawmakers (who are in the minority), and Maine’s attorney general.

He even put pen to paper to oppose the bill. «Decriminalizing all drugs is a step that goes too far at this point, says Aaron Frey in a letter addressed to members of Congress. That being said, I »I don't believe that prison or fines treat drug addiction. We need to work to reduce the role the judicial system plays in drug-related issues."