B.C. officials to announce legislation on public drug use

Provincial officials are set to announce more restrictions on the public use of illicit drugs in B.C., as possession remains decriminalized in the province.

Provincial officials are set to announce more restrictions on the public use of illicit drugs in B.C. as possession remains decriminalized in the province.

Premier David Eby and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth are scheduled to speak at 11 a.m. about incoming legislation

Possession of small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use has been decriminalized in B.C. as part of a three-year pilot approved by the federal government. However, last month the provincial government announced it would recriminalize possession within 15 metres of what it described as "child-focused spaces' like playgrounds and wading pools.

At that time officials also promised to bring forward legislation to "further regulate public drug use."

The move to decriminalize possession came amid a toxic drug crisis that has killed thousands and thousands of British Columbians since it was declared a public health emergency in 2016. The move is meant to reduce stigma and recognize that criminalizing people who use drugs is an ineffective response to the deadly crisis. The pilot project has come under fire from the Opposition BC United which claims it has led to a deterioration in public safety. 

Intoxication in public spaces has remained illegal throughout the decriminalization pilot project, which allows people to carry up to 2.5 grams of substances such as opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA.