The Canadian province of British Columbia is launching a first-of-its-kind trial to decriminalize small amounts of dangerous drugs like cocaine and heroin.
Adults can now possess up to 2.5g of such narcotics, as well as methamphetamine, fentanyl, and morphine, as of Tuesday.
The federal government of Canada agreed to the west coast province’s request to conduct the three-year trial.
It is similar to a policy implemented in the neighboring US state of Oregon, which decriminalized heavy narcotics in 2020.
Before the pilot’s launch, British Columbia and federal officials laid down the groundwork for the nationally granted exemption from the Controlled Substances Act.
While such narcotics will continue to be banned, adults discovered in possession of less than 2.5g of the drugs will not be arrested, charged, or have their drugs seized. They will instead be provided with information on available health and social services. Carolyn Bennett, the federal minister of mental health and addictions, hailed the decision as “a historic shift in drug policy that favors developing trustworthy and helpful relationships in health and social services above further criminalization” on Monday.
Since British Columbia declared drugs a public health emergency in 2016, officials estimate that 10,000 individuals have died from overdoses.
Thousands of police officers in the province, including those in Vancouver, the province’s largest city, have received training on the rule change.
Unless canceled by the federal government, the program will operate from January 31, 2023, until January 31, 2026.
Some specialists have questioned the 2.5g restriction, claiming that it is insufficient to account for many addicts’ habits.
The plan does include several exceptions.
The sale of narcotics is still prohibited. Possession of narcotics is also prohibited on the grounds of schools, childcare facilities, and airports.
In 2018, Canada legalized recreational cannabis use for adults across the country.
However, the four narcotics currently permitted in tiny quantities remain illegal, which means that, unlike marijuana, there are no plans to sell them in stores. It is also prohibited to traffic them across borders.
