Oh, agreed, but the problem in Oregon is that UNLIKE Portugal, it’s all carrot and no stick. We decriminalized all drugs, which created a human interest disaster, with absolutely zero incentive for then to get treatment.
The way it “works” now is if you get caught with drugs it’s a $100 ticket. That ticket is waived if you call a toll free number and seek treatment. You don’t have to actually ENTER treatment, all you have to do is call the number.
16,000 people ticketed, 136 called the number. Genius. I guess those $100 tickets make great toilet paper.
Portugal can actually force people into treatment. That can’t happen here.