British Columbia, Canada's Drug Decriminalization Policy Takes Effect—But Advocates Say It Doesn't Go Far Enough
MJ moment
"Decriminalization alone does not address the issue that drug users will still need to access an unregulated and deadly drug supply." By Doug Johnson, Filter British Columbia has officially become the first province in Canada to decriminalize possession of small quantities of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA. The three-year pilot period—based on an exemption from the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act—runs from January 31, 2023 to January 31, 2026. People aged 18 and over should now no longer be arrested, charged or have their drugs taken away by police, so long as they're carrying a cumulative total of no more than 2.5 grams of those four substance types. The move has been praised by some groups in Canada, including the federal New Democratic Party, whose provincial counterpart holds power in BC. "Decriminalizing people who use drugs is a critical step in the province's fight against the toxic drug crisis," read an email to Filter from the provincial government. "The goal of decriminalization is to help break down stigma—the fear and shame associated with drug use—so more people will feel comfortable reaching out for life-saving supports." The email stated that, in line with the policy, police officers will now offer people found with drugs a resource card that contains information about various supports, including substance use treatment services. Join Jennifer Whiteside, BC Minister of Mental Health and Addictions; Carolyn Bennett, federal Minister for Mental Health and Addictions; and Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, for an update about the implementation of drug decriminalization. https://t.co/1zb9Ss6z2F — BC Government News (@BCGovNews) January 30, 2023 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js But the policy has also been greeted with substantial skepticism and objections—and not just from people and political parties who are against decriminalization per se. For a long time, harm reductionists and groups of people who use drugs have criticized the…
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Source : British Columbia, Canada's Drug Decriminalization Policy Takes Effect—But Advocates Say It Doesn't Go Far Enough
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