BC’s Illicit Drug Possession Limit May Be ‘Too Low,’ Says Federal Report

Federal Report Suggests BC’s Illicit Drug Possession Limit is Potentially Too Low

April 23, 2024 TruthUSA

A recent report by federal researchers has suggested increasing the legal possession limit of illicit drugs in British Columbia, despite rising calls for the recriminalization of hard drugs in the province.

British Columbia currently permits individuals to possess up to 2.5 grams of illicit drugs as part of the province’s decriminalization pilot project. A new study conducted by the Canadian Institutes of Health and Research, as part of ongoing research to assess the public health and economic impacts of drug decriminalization, stated that drug users have expressed dissatisfaction with the limit and are advocating for an increase in legal quantities.

The study, titled “Evaluation Of The British Columbia Exemption To Allow For Personal Possession Of Small Amounts Of Illegal Drugs Semi-Annual Meeting: What We Heard Report,” which was initially reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, involved interviews with drug users, with at least 55 individuals interviewed thus far.

According to the study, drug users believe that “the 2.5g threshold is too low and does not reflect their substance use patterns,” further mentioning that it hinders addicts from purchasing drugs in bulk, which could pose challenges for addicts residing in rural areas.

“Buying in bulk may be more cost-effective, especially for PWUD [people who use drugs] living in remote communities. It is customary to buy in bulk and distribute or share among peers,” stated the document.

This research emerges as opposition to decriminalization grows.

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Three Metro Vancouver city councillors urged the province on April 22 to terminate its “unsuccessful” drug decriminalization experiment, joining municipal politicians and opposition MLAs who oppose widespread public drug use.

In 2023, the federal government granted B.C. an exemption from the criminal ban on personal possession of cocaine, opioids, methamphetamine, and other illicit drugs as part of a decriminalization pilot project scheduled to run until January 2026. However, drug decriminalization in the province has faced criticism since its inception by the NDP government.

A study conducted by the federal government’s Provy Council Office (PO) published last year revealed that surveyed B.C. residents mostly disapproved of drug decriminalization and felt that the government should focus more on discouraging illicit drug use.

Furthermore, drug decriminalization has not resulted in a reduction in overdose deaths in the province, with RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald stating to a House of Commons committee earlier this month.

Dep.-Comm. McDonald also noted that although fewer individuals have been charged with criminal offenses related to drug possession due to decriminalization, there have been “challenges” concerning public drug consumption and other criminal activities.

“Safer supply” drugs provided by the government have been introduced in B.C. as a measure to reduce overdose deaths; however, these drugs have increasingly been illicitly sold by criminals.

In March, the B.C. RCMP confiscated over 10,000 pills, many of which were linked to the safer supply program.

“We have observed a troubling trend over the past year in the quantity of prescription drugs discovered during drug trafficking investigations, noting that they are used as a form of currency to buy more potent, illegal street drugs,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper following a drug seizure in Prince George.

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