Voters Back Legalized Drugs, Higher Wages, Voting Restrictions
Voters on Tuesday approved measures favoring legalizing drugs, raising the minimum wage and keeping noncitizens from casting ballots, among dozens of other ballot initiatives before the electorate.
With the approval of Measure 110, Oregon became the first state to eliminate criminal penalties for possession of hard drugs. Possessing small quantities of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, MDMA (ecstasy) or psilocybin (the psychedelic ingredient in magic mushrooms) will be a civil violation carrying a small fine that can be waived upon completion of a health assessment with an addiction-treatment professional. The measure, which also reduces criminal penalties for possession of larger amounts of illicit drugs, won close to 60% of the vote. Selling and manufacturing drugs is still a crime.
Separately, Oregon voted to increase its cigarette tax from $1.33 per pack to $3.33 per pack and to establish a tax on e-cigarettes.
Four more states—Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota—voted to legalize recreational marijuana. They join 11 other states, along with the District of Columbia, that have made it legal for adults to possess limited amounts of pot for personal use.
-more-
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/voters-back-legalized-drugs-higher-wages-voting-restrictions/ar-BB1aH3pF?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=DELLDHP