Canadian province experiments with decriminalising hard drugs
Canada's province of British Columbia is starting a first-in-the-nation trial decriminalising small amounts of hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Adults can possess up to 2.5g of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and morphine. Canada's federal government granted the request by the west coast province to try out the three-year decriminalization experiment. Ahead of the pilot's launch, British Columbia and federal officials outlined the rules under the federally approved exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. While those substances will remain illegal, adults found in possession of a combined total of less than 2.5g of the drugs will not be arrested, charged or have their substances seized. (See also: What you need to know about the decriminalization of possessing illicit drugs in B.C. | Decriminalization yet another 'half measure' as B.C. confronts full-sized drug crisis, advocates say)
