By Kyle Jaeger
An Oregon campaign to decriminalize drug possession and invest in substance misuse treatment has released the first video ad for its initiative since the measure qualified for the November ballot.
The 90-second digital spot features Bobby Byrd, a campaign community organizer for Yes On 110 who has faced long-term social consequences for a low-level drug conviction dating back to 1993. His story is meant to highlight the need to remove criminal penalties for drug possession and address addiction as a public health issue.
“Our current drug laws can ruin lives based on a single accusation,” Byrd said in a press release on Wednesday. “My criminal record still makes it hard to get housing and a permanent job. We need to change this now.”