In 2020, the citizens of Oregon voted in favor of Ballot Measure 110 which would decriminalize the possession and ultimately the use of hard drugs, The Blaze reports.

The resulting legislation, which came into effect in February 2021, could still result in people caught with hard drugs deemed for personal use facing a potential fine of $100.

So, how have things fared in Oregon since the passing of the legislation?

The Blaze reports:

The Daily Mail reported that Ballot Measure 110 has largely had an inverse effect and has led not to more people seeking treatment but to more drug-related deaths and the proliferation of hard drug use throughout Oregonian communities.

Republican state official Lily Morgan said, “We have overdoses increasing at drastic rates.”

Morgan said, “In my community, [there has been] a 700% increase in overdoses and a 120% increase in deaths.”

Even Oregon’s Secretary of State, Shemia Fagan, who originally applauded the legislation claiming it would improve people’s lives, has admitted things have gotten worse.

“When the voters of Oregon passed Measure 110, we did so because it was a change of policy in Oregon to improve the lives of people, to improve our communities,” Fagan said. “And in the years since, we haven’t seen that play out.”

“Instead, in many communities in Oregon, we’ve seen the problem with drug addiction get worse,” Fagan added.

READ: Overdose rates up 700% in Oregon after the state decriminalized the possession of hard drugs