Article content Over the past weeks, much debate has surrounded the City of Vancouverâs plan to seek a federal exemption to decriminalize personal possession of illegal drugs. On the one hand, organizations representing people who use substances have raised concerns about the proposed amounts of drugs individuals would be able to possess under the exemption and the importance of access to a safe supply of pharmaceutical drugs for people who will remain at risk of overdose. Alternatively, others have rejected the basic premise that we should provide a safe supply or even Opioid Agonist Therapy â an evidence-based treatment for opioid addiction â to people struggling with substance use.