By / February 23, 2022

Canada to Debate Decriminalisation of All Drugs

Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP) is proposing a federal bill to decriminalize possession of all drugs nationwide. The private member’s bill, Bill C-216, will be debated in the spring.

“It’s time to truly end the failed war on drugs,” said Gord Johns, the NDP MP behind the bill. He hopes his fellow MPs from across the political spectrum will act to improve the health of Canadians, rather than trying to garner votes. “This is a health issue and I call on all parliamentarians to do the right thing.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has publicly supported the motion, increasing the chance that this will be a story we’ll be hearing about for some time. Following any additional developments is easy using our free cannabis news app.

A 3-Part Bill on Drugs

The bill has three parts. The first is the simple decriminalization of possession for all drugs, regardless of type. Gord Johns argues that decades of criminalization and the higher presence of extremely potent drugs, as well as the lack of access to harm reduction services, are fuelling overdose deaths.

Between January 2016 and June 2021, 24,626 “apparent opioid-related deaths” were recorded in Canada, according to Statistics Canada. Between April and June last year, there were 1,720, or 19 per day. “Decriminalisation is a key component of a smart, effective, and scientifically proven strategy to combat the overdose epidemic,” said Johns.

The bill on drugs would also cancel criminal records for possession charges, removing some of the barriers to returning to employment or housing.

The third part is regulation on the use of drugs. It would mandate the creation of a “national strategy to address the harm caused by problematic substance use by promoting a comprehensive public health approach,” the bill states.

More than Just Decriminalizing Drugs

The bill’s functions include creating easy access to a safe supply of drugs, reducing the stigma associated with substance use through various programs, and implementing prevention programs that address the factors – social and economic, among others – that lead to problematic drug use.

A national approach would be more equitable than the current situation, Brittany Graham, executive director of the Vancouver Area Network of Drugs Users (VANDU) told Filter. “It also makes things much simpler when there is the same rule across the country.

Some Say Bill Is Flawed

According to Graham, the current bill has several flaws, including what would be a national possession threshold for each drug, which would constitute trafficking, with some users needing to sell small amounts of drugs to make ends meet, or the failure to address the problem of adulterated substances until they are distributed through harm reduction structures.

In the last Canadian election, each of the country’s main political parties at least tacitly recognized that prosecuting people for possession of drugs was not the right way forward. This does not bode well for the success of this proposed law on drugs, however.

__

(Photo by Praveen Kumar Nandagiri via Unsplash)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third-party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Hemp.im, its management, staff, or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published in NewsWeed, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Hemp.im assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Hemp.im is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.


Comments are closed for this post.