US voters decriminalize hard drugs and marijuana but restrict abortion in state elections
BMJ 2020; 371 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m4314 (Published 06 November 2020) Cite this as: BMJ 2020;371:m4314
Voters in several US states made local changes easing access to hard drugs and marijuana, but possibly restricting abortion, in state elections held on 3 November, many as part of ballots during the presidential election.
The west coast state of Oregon decriminalized the possession of heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, oxycodone, and other hard drugs. Oregon was the first state to decriminalize possession of marijuana in 1973 and passed a “dignity in dying” act in 1997, which allows Oregon residents with a terminal illness to use a dose of prescribed lethal medication.
Although possession of hard drugs was decriminalized by the vote in Oregon, it was not a license to use. Someone who is found using one of the hard drugs would not face trial and possible jail time but instead would have a choice of paying a $100 (£76; €84) fine or attending new “addiction recovery centers” supported by funds from Oregon’s legal marijuana industry.1 The aim of the proposal was to stop making criminals out of drug users and to move them into healthcare and recovery from addiction.
Oregon also legalized the use of psilocybin mushrooms after a two year development period. The mushrooms would be used by patients with anxiety, including war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, and terminally ill patients.
Four other states legalized marijuana, usually for medical and recreational use: the northcentral states of South Dakota and Montana, the southwestern state of Arizona, and New Jersey on the east coast. Rules about when marijuana will be available, to whom, and who can grow it differ from state to state and may take some time to take effect.
Restricting abortion
Attempts to restrict abortion were included on the ballot in the central state of Colorado and the southern state of Louisiana. Colorado voters rejected an attempt to restrict abortion.
Louisiana voters approved an amendment to the state constitution to say that abortion is not a right. For now, the amendment has no effect; however, if the Supreme Court were to overturn its 1973 Roe v Wade decision that permitted abortion, the right to abortion would depend on state law. Louisiana now has a “trigger law” that would automatically outlaw abortion if Roe v Wade were overturned. Several other states including Alabama, Tennessee, and West Virginia have similar laws.2
President Donald Trump, who was once in favor of choice, is now anti-abortion. He has appointed many conservative judges, most recently adding Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. The conservative leaning court will hear arguments next week to invalidate the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare. If the act were invalidated, people would lose access to contraception and other protections. Cases attempting to overturn Roe v Wade will also come before the court soon.
In terms of tobacco use, both Colorado and Oregon increased taxes on vaping products and e-cigarettes. The funds will go to support medical and health programs.3
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