Updates

As of 31 January 2023, possession of some illegal drugs will not be criminalized in the province of British Columbia (announced in May 2022), making it the first Canadian province to decriminalize hard drugs. This province was also the first to introduce supervised injection sites (or safe consumption sites) in 2003. The BC government received an exemption under the federal Controlled Drugs and Substance Act to remove criminal penalties for possession of small amounts (up to 2.5 grams for personal use) of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA. The primary aim of this exemption is to reduce deaths from drug overdoses, in line with a harm reduction and public health approach to drug use. Additionally, the government is motivated by equity goals: to reduce the disproportionate representation of Indigenous and racialized people in the criminal justice system, and inequitable health and social impacts of the overdose crisis. The exemption that was granted to the BC government is time limited (three years) and subject to several requirements including expanding harm reduction services, addiction treatment services, safer supply programs, and other supports, engagement with people who use drugs, law enforcement, racialized and Indigenous communities, monitoring and evaluation, among others.