Multnomah Commissioner candidate makes BIZARRE statement about tackling drug issues
With the upcoming elections for the District 3 Multnomah County commissioner around the corner, the candidates are out in force, and PR season is in full swing. Step forward, to one of the more bizarre soundbites from an OPB interview with candidate Albert Kaufman. During his segment with the three other potential candidates, Kaufman said this when it came to tackling the drugs crisis in the region:
“One that I’ll just throw out here quickly is I believe that for those who are addicted to drugs, we should be getting the best-grown cannabis in the world into their hands. We have an excess of cannabis in our state. And I suggest that we quickly figure out how to get that into the hands of anyone who is doing meth, fentanyl, or heroin.”
Now, this may seem a bit of an unusual statement to make, and it may have been said with a bit of tongue in cheek – but then looking at this picture found online, it actually makes complete sense as to why Kaufman said it.
So, his idea is to throw more drugs at the drug problem in Portland. Having said this, his policy may actually not be a terrible idea compared to some of the other crazy ideas out there. So, if you’re looking for a quirky choice for the District 3 Multnomah County commissioner, then Albert Kaufman may be the person who you should vote for!
This ridiculous pablum expired in the last century. Throwing drugs at people so they stop doing drugs, why that sounds almost pharmaceutical. Any street drug is far safer than the pharmaceutical poison they have now, they come with warnings of possible side effects that are worse than the illness it’s trying to cure! Why would I take that risk?
Cannabis has been shown to help with many things.
I thought it was nuts when they made marijuana legal. Then they legalize the use of the hard drugs for personal use. What’s the point anymore?
I totally agree. It’s not a perfect solution. But I doubt seriously there is a perfect solution. Add on getting them housed and I bet it does help better than many other solutions at the least it’s more humain than jails institutions and death.
Totally agree. I’ve been trapped in methadone , Suboxone programs which kept me addicted to opiates and unable to experience any quality of life trying to get off heroin ,crack and cigarettes. I finally went to detox for the last time and started vaping CBD and marijuana. I am now off cigarettes all mood mind altering chemicals for nearly five years.i finally got in supportive housing and the complex hearing problem addressed with zen hearing aids and practicing extreme self care. Now I do volunteer outreach and identify as a drug war veteran. Saving edibles in case I ever need to medicate pain.Manyhomeless are suffering with this painful hearing impairment
I will be following Albert Kaufman …however I am non political
It’s definitely a start. We need to get them permanent housing (Old Hotel) without preconditions or forcing them to give up their pets . Then we need to hire a bunch of mental illnes medical professionals, then start to work on recovery from the hard crap and free cannabis no doubt will help. Obviously will always have those that wish to remain homeless and addicted, however I do believe if provided the correct resources many of those suffering would indeed take advantage of the hand up. That will help the community overall.
I do not see how putting more drugs into the hands of drug addicts will help. i see the addict selling the pot and use the money to buy his/her drug of choice. it’s a tough problem, but i just don’t see more drugs as the answer to all the drugs already out there.
As the director of a drug and alcohol treatment center (CityTeam) in Portland, and a recovered addict myself, I can tell you that this is an absolutely terrible idea and further explains how we got into this addiction epidemic in the first place…..BAD policy making, loneliness and lack of available treatment. Housing first doesn’t work, harm reduction is useless against fentanyl, and measure 110 poured gasoline on an already bomb fire situation.