SHARES Decriminalization was supposed to make life safer for users, but advocates say the city’s flawed approach could increase risks.
Photo by Jesse Winter.
In November, the City of Vancouver forged ahead with a bold plan to become the first Canadian city to decriminalize drugs in a move that could become a template for other cities and provinces.
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Mayor Kennedy Stewart said the proposal could be approved by the federal government “within a matter of months.”
Drug user groups and others concerned about Vancouver s decriminalization plans
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Opinion: Prairie Harm Reduction is saving lives Denying them funding is the wrong move
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This week was the five-year anniversary of B.C.’s declaration of a public health emergency due to a toxic drug supply causing fatal overdoses. Back in 2016, the province saw 991 overdose deaths. That number has nearly doubled to 1,724 (in 2020). This is a damning indictment of government inaction.
On this somber anniversary, we renew our calls for the federal government to decriminalize the simple possession of drugs and expand access to safe pharmaceutical alternatives (safe supply) to the current illegal drug supply.
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