What you need to know about the decriminalization of possessing illicit drugs in B.C. – CBC
B.C. granted exemption by federal government in November 2022; pilot will run until 2026
Jan 30, 2023
Starting Tuesday, it is no longer a criminal offence to possess small amounts of certain illicit drugs in B.C., for people age 18 or above.
It’s part of a three-year pilot by the federal government, which granted B.C. an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) on May 31, 2022.
While advocates for drug users say decriminalization alone won’t stop thousands of people dying from a tainted drug supply, others say it is a step in the right direction when it comes to how drug users are treated.
Here’s what you need to know about B.C.’s drug decriminalization pilot.
