91原创

Just take it from , both of whom used the word 鈥渘ightmare鈥� to describe British Columbia鈥檚 experience with drug decriminalization. Or take it from 鈥�

At issue is , which decriminalized personal possession of small amounts of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA (ecstasy.) The exemption, a pilot program, took effect on Jan. 31, 2023, and is expected to run for three years.

Now the provincial government is seeking changes to that amendment. While there were concerns about resulting drug use in public spaces, it appears the government’s request for an amendment was driven by what was happening in hospitals. The B.C. Nurses Union, which supports decriminalization, expressed concern about hospital nurses being subject to smoke from fentanyl and other dangerous substances. In one week in April, for example, five nurses landed 鈥渋n emergency after being exposed by one patient.鈥�

That should come as no surprise, since people with addictions don鈥檛 suddenly lose their cravings once they cross the threshold of the emergency room. But the threat to hospital staff is a legitimate concern, and the B.C. government responded by introducing an array of supports for hospital patients with substance use disorders.

The province also announced that a task force will investigate illicit drug use in hospitals, and in November, it passed a law prohibiting the public use of illicit drugs. But that law is now subject to a court challenge, and the courts enjoined the province from enforcing the law while the challenge proceeds.

Aside from hospitals, that 鈥渢here have been several high-profile instances of problematic drug use at public locations, including parks, beaches and around public transit.鈥澛�

As a result, under the CDSA to recriminalize drug use in public spaces, including hospitals, parks, beaches and on public transit, but not including drug consumption and overdose sites and among those legally sheltering.聽聽

And that, some of our political leaders would have you believe, means decriminalization has been a nightmare or a disaster.

In the real world, B.C.鈥檚 problems have virtually nothing to do with decriminalization, and virtually everything to do with its difficulties in regulating public spaces. It would, of course, have been wise had B.C. excluded public spaces from its original exemption request, but hindsight is 20/20.

And benefiting from hindsight is the entire purpose of the pilot project. By definition, a pilot project is a small-scale study to assess the effects of a measure before implementing it on a larger scale.

In keeping with that purpose, B.C.鈥檚 pilot project is being monitored by both the federal and provincial governments to see if it鈥檚 achieving its objectives, or if changes are necessary. The evidence gathered will help B.C. - and other jurisdictions, including 91原创, which has applied for a similar exemption - to determine if longer-term decriminalization is advisable, and if so, to decide how best to structure it.

As the pilot project is still in its early stages, evidence is limited, but we have learned that public drug use must be carefully regulated. Beyond that, though, we don鈥檛 know the effects of decriminalization, which is why the project should - nay, must - continue.

Above all, we must not let the remarks of a few opportunistic politicians persuade us to give up without even really trying, and return to drug prohibition and the cataclysm it has unleashed. That鈥檚 already a nightmare. And a disaster.