Historic pilot project decriminalizing drugs takes effect in B.C.

Whiteside said this move is a critical step in tackling the worsening toxic drug crisis in the province.

She said the widely supported policy will break down stigma, fear and shame of drug use which prevents users from reaching out for life-saving supports.

Whiteside emphasized substance use is a matter of public health, not justice.

While acknowledging concerns some people may have with this change, she added the province is constantly discouraging youth from experimenting with drug use.

“We want parents to know that we’ve developed resources about decriminalization to support them and educators and school staff when they’re talking to children and youth about drugs.”

Criminal drug possession charges could still be be applied if adults are in possession of any amount of illegal drugs at schools, licensed child-care facilities, airports and Canadian Coast Guard vessels and helicopters.

Whiteside estimated two-thirds of the more than 9,000 front-line police officers in the province have undergone training for the new drug decriminalization policy.

She said calls to decriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs has been made for years, which she said have been called for by drug users, health officials, the Union of BC Municipalities and all parties represented in the provincial legislature.

Health Canada granted its support of the policy last May.

Further details on how the drug policy will work in the province can be found here.

Federal Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett stressed the new exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act does not legalize drugs.

“All activities with illegal drugs, including production, trafficking, import and export remain illegal; even if conducted within the drugs listed in the exemption in amounts under the two-and-a-half grams threshold.”

Despite increased attention and resources from the B.C. Government to get a handle on the toxic drug crisis since elected in 2017, the problem has only worsened.

Like many areas of the province, the mid-Island region has been hit hard by the toxic drug crisis.

The most recent statistics from the BC Coroners Service showed 59 people in Nanaimo had died in the first 10 months of last year due to toxic drugs, eclipsing the previous mark of 56 fatalities in 2017.

More than 10,000 British Columbians have died due to toxic drugs since a public health emergency in to the matter was declared in 2016.

An overdose prevention site designed to cater to both inhalation and injection drug users opened on Nanaimo’s Albert St. in early December.

A peer-led drug consumption site operating under a provincial Ministerial Health Order continues operating on Nicol St.

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On Twitter: @reporterholmes

by Ian Holmes

Historic pilot project decriminalizing drugs takes effect in B.C.

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