Canada’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Carolyn Bennett Tuesday announced that her office is temporarily decriminalizing some drug possession crimes in British Columbia to address the province’s overdose crisis.
The minister’s goal is to “decrease substance use harms, prevent overdose, reduce stigma and end this [overdose] crisis” in order to save lives. British Columbia (BC) previously “requested a subsection 56(1) exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act,” which allows Bennett to exempt an individual or group from prosecution under the act if it is in the public interest to do so. This exemption will allow adults in BC to “not be subject to criminal charges for personal possession of small amounts of certain illegal drugs” of up to 2.5 grams, subject to conditions.
Bennett announced her grant of BC’s request for the exemption under subsection 56(1) for a three-year period. This exception will be regulated as follows:
From January 31, 2023 to January 31, 2026, adults 18 and over in BC will not be subject to criminal charges for the possession of up to 2.5 grams of certain illegal drugs for personal use. We are granting this exemption because our government is committed to using all available tools that reduce stigma, substance use harms, and continuing to work with jurisdictions, to save lives and end this crisis.
Bennett also announced federal funding for 14 projects amounting to 11.78 million Canadian dollars through BC’s Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program.
