British Columbia on Friday changed a policy decriminalizing small amounts of certain drugs, following growing criticism of their use in public places.
Last year, the province in the western part of the country made a decision to combat the opioid crisis by no longer punishing possession of less than 2.5 grams of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl or other hard drugs for personal use. Destruction.
The goal was not to stigmatize users, but to make it a public health issue.
But drug use in public places – parks, streets, beaches, hospitals etc. has increased significantly.
“Our first priority is safety. “While we care for those facing drug addiction, we will not accept clutter on the streets that makes people worry for their safety,” said David Eby, the province's premier progressive.
Police can now seize illegal drugs and force a user to leave the area or arrest them. But small possessions are innocent at home, according to a press release.
Further south, the US state of Oregon announced in early April that it would decriminalize possession of small amounts of the drug since September after becoming the first US state to decriminalize all drugs.
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