Health Canada Has Approves B.C.’S Request To Decriminalize Small Drug Possession

Health Canada has approved B.C.’s request to decriminalize small possessions of illicit drugs, although at a lower threshold than the province sought.

Health Canada has approved B.C.’s request to decriminalize small possessions of illicit drugs, although at a lower threshold than the province sought.

Beginning on Jan. 31, 2023, British Columbians 18 and older will be allowed to carry up to 2.5 grams of street drugs on them, which can include opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine or MDMA. Health Canada says the drugs must be for personal use only, and the program will be reviewed in three years.

The agency says adults found in possession of 2.5 grams or less won’t be arrested or charged and won’t have their drugs seized. Anyone producing, importing or exporting drugs and anyone carrying them for the purposes of trafficking will continue to face legal repercussions, though.

People carrying drugs cannot have them on the premises of an elementary or secondary school, licensed child care facility, airport or Canadian Coast Guard plane or helicopter. Drugs also cannot be readily accessible to the driver or operator of a vehicle or boat, and cannot be carried across borders.

Health Canada says the months leading up to Jan. 31 will be used by B.C. to train law enforcement and health authorities, educate the public on the change, and work with First Nations and Indigenous leaders to ensure safe implementation.

Health Canada and a third party evaluator will be regularly monitoring the exemption throughout the three years and making any adjustments necessary.

The approval comes shortly after the six year anniversary of B.C. declaring a public health emergency around the opioid crisis. Since April 2016, close to 10,000 people have died from toxic drug overdoses, 548 of them in the first three months of 2022.