PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Cannabis revenue is forecasted to dwindle over the next four years. When coupled with a $40 million loss in Measure 110 funds because of re-criminalization, the result is a decline of roughly $140 million in money to recovery networks statewide.
The Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council has allocated roughly $430 million in funding to approximately 220 organizations statewide for a four year grant cycle, the previous four years' worth of funding had totaled about $560.5 million, which included a $40 million boost that came from money saved by not charging people with possession.
Recriminalization of hard drugs enacted by lawmakers in the 2024 legislative session will do away with the boost.
"Providers received intent-to-award letters from OHA, and are expected to begin contract negotiations soon in order to safeguard against service disruptions," read a press release from Health Justice Recovery , which is a Measure 110 advocacy group.
"Grant awards will fund lifesaving services like overdose prevention, detox, treatment, recovery housing, and other essential supports across the continuum of addiction care. This funding comes at a time when Oregon is losing about four people each day to preventable drug overdoses."
However, not everyone is content with their share of the pie; a number of counties are supporting a proposed bill that would change the funding formula for Measure 110 distributions and would require the accountability council to take comments from counties about their applications into consideration.
For example, Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell feels her county has been disadvantaged by the funding formula which does not consider the size of the county.
"The metric that was used to do the funding allocation isn't done on a population basis, so it doesn't necessarily get to the root of the problem in some of the most large communities across the state. Specifically, the metro area of Marion and Lane counties," Bethell said during an interview with KATU News.
As written, SB 610 would change the funding formula for the current grant cycle.
Tera Hurst, executive director of Health Justice Recovery Alliance, said she is open to changes and to more feedback from counties in the future funding cycles, but feels funding allocations promised to recovery providers in the current four year grant cycle should not be disrupted.
