The Oregon House of Representatives has approved House Bill 3825, which seeks to forgive fines related to cannabis citations issued by county and municipal courts. The bill passed with a vote of 41 to 13 and now heads to the Oregon Senate for further discussion.
This legislation follows Oregon’s earlier move to legalize the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana for adults aged 21 and older. In 2015, Governor Kate Brown pardoned thousands of state-level convictions and fines, yet many individuals still face financial burdens from fines imposed at the local level.
Supporters of House Bill 3825 argue that these fines, some over a decade old, should be eliminated as they no longer correspond to current laws. In Oregon, fines can be collected for up to 20 years, meaning that many individuals are still dealing with debts for actions that are no longer considered illegal. The bill aims to alleviate this financial strain, particularly as many of these debts have been handed over to collection agencies, which can harm individuals’ credit ratings and hinder their economic stability.
Among the supporters were 11 Republican representatives, including Rep. Mark Owen from Crane. However, some Republicans, including Reps. Bobby Levy and Greg Smith, voted against the bill.
The passage of this bill could have a significant impact on many Oregonians who are still grappling with the repercussions of outdated cannabis fines.
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