It’s no surprise that 2020 was a wild year. From a global pandemic shifting our daily lives to civil unrest across the world after the murder of George Floyd to wildfires destroying so much of the West. It was a rough one and collectively as a society, we’re all ready to say good riddance to one of the most challenging years of our lifetime. Of course, it wasn’t all bad and today we’re going to look back at an interesting year and get ready to move forward.
Ricky R. Nelson Awarded Top Honors
While the world locked down, Nelson Law, and founding attorney Ricky R. Nelson, joined other essential workers — driving to Madras every workday, representing clients in courthouses in Jefferson, Crook and Deschutes County. The legal system doesn’t sleep and Nelson Law continued to grind throughout 2020.
Nelson also took home top awards and recognition in the legal profession, including:
- American Institute of Legal Advocates – Criminal Law Elite Advocate 2021
- 2020 Super Lawyer Rising Star Honoree
- 2020 American Academy of Attorneys Top 40 Under 40
- 2020 Top Attorneys In Oregon Rising Stars Recognition (Portland Monthly, July 2020)
It has been an honor to help the Central Oregon community by providing fair and affordable criminal law services. Nelson brings an aggressive legal strategy to every case in order to help clients receive the best possible outcome.
Oregon Decriminalizes Certain Drugs and Legalizes Mushrooms for Therapeutic Use
One of the biggest changes in criminal law came this November when Oregon voted to decriminalize certain drugs and legalized psilocybin from Magic Mushrooms for therapeutic use. The passing of Measure 109 makes Oregon the first state to legalize psilocybin, the hallucinogenic chemical found in certain types of fresh and dried mushrooms, in a therapeutic setting. In 2019, the FDA designated psilocybin therapy as a breakthrough therapy for two clinical trials studying the effects of depression and major depressive disorder.
Measure 110, the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act, set out to provide Oregonians with adequate access to drug addiction treatment. In addition to decriminalizing certain hard drugs, the act aims to bring recovery services, peer support and stable housing to those suffering from substance use disorder. The act shifts the focus to addressing drugs through a humane, cost-effective health-centered approach.
Looking Forward to 2021
As 2020 comes to a close, Nelson Law looks forward to another year of supporting and helping the Central Oregon community with intention and drive. This last year may have been difficult, but it hasn’t broken us. It’s taught us more about ourselves than we ever imagined possible and opened up the doors for real change as we move forward and past the Covid-19 pandemic. Keep your heads up, Central Oregon, and let’s tackle 2021 together.
