It’s been more than 6 months of drug decriminalization in B.C. What’s changed?

published on September 8, 2023 by Elizabeth McSheffrey in Global News

The B.C. government has said reducing stigma around drug use is a key goal of its decriminalization program, but more than six months into the initiative, some advocates are worried it’s failing so far.

B.C.’s exemption to the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act took effect on Jan. 31, allowing adults to possess small amounts of certain drugs — opioids, crack, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA — for personal use.

Brittany Graham, executive director of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, said “political backlash” seems to have increased since the onset of the pilot project — the first of its kind in Canada.

For example, many right-wing organizations and politicians have used the policy “as a means to push their own agenda to have more cops,” she explained. Yet no evidence exists to suggest more enforcement is needed, she added…