There are growing calls for drug decriminalization. Could it solve Canada’s opioid crisis?

Canada needs a coordinated, national drug possession policy that should be designed to tackle opioid overdose mortalities, experts say.

There are growing calls across Canada to decriminalize the possession and use of illicit drugs as the country grapples with an opioid overdose crisis that has killed thousands of Canadians.

Last week, British Columbia became the first province to officially request the federal government for an exemption from criminal penalties for people who possess small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use. This came after Vancouver submitted its own proposal to Health Canada in June.

Meanwhile, Toronto is also preparing to make a similar plea later this year. In June, Ontario’s big city mayors proposed new approaches to the mental health and addictions crises in their cities, including decriminalization of drugs.

As the pressure from different jurisdictions mounts on the federal government, advocates say Canada needs a coordinated national drug possession policy that is designed to tackle opioid overdose mortalities.

“It’s good that B.C. is taking this step, but in the long term, it doesn’t make sense that one province has different approaches, different drug laws than another province,” said Donald MacPherson, executive director of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (CDPC) at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

“We would prefer the federal government take the bull by the horns … and put in place a well-researched, thoughtful decriminalization model so that there is an equity of enforcement and opportunity across the country.”

Under Section 56 (1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, an exemption can be granted by the minister of justice and attorney general of Canada if it is deemed necessary for a medical or scientific purpose or is otherwise in the public interest.

There is growing consensus among public health and policy experts that criminal penalties for drug possession can be “extremely harmful,” as they stigmatize drug users and reduce their likelihood of accessing health services.