B.C.91裸聊视频檚 mental health and addictions minister is deflecting criticism the amount of illicit drugs being decriminalized is too little by suggesting police will take a more lenient approach to personal possession enforcement.

In an interview with Black Press Media on Thursday (June 2), Minister Sheila Malcolmson described the federal allowance of 2.5 grams as 91裸聊视频渁 floor and not a ceiling.91裸聊视频�

Health Canada fell short on approving the requested exemption to of illicit drugs for personal use Tuesday. That decision has been the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition and Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) for being too low of a threshold to make an impact on B.C.91裸聊视频檚 toxic drug crisis, which has killed over 9,400 people since 2016.

91裸聊视频淭here is still police discretion and training to be able to recognize when something is trafficking or when it91裸聊视频檚 personal use, and there should be no seizures even above that threshold level if we do that work well,91裸聊视频� Malcolmson said.

But it91裸聊视频檚 not clear if that is what will occur in practice. The three-year exemption goes into effect Jan. 31, 2023, and states that police will offer information on health supports for people 18 and older found to have up to 2.5 grams of street drugs.

B.C. RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Chris Manseau said in an email it is too early to know how enforcement of the exemption will be handled.

91裸聊视频淭o imply that there might be a 91裸聊视频榣eeway amount91裸聊视频� at this very early stage would be premature. A set amount has been agreed upon, and we will continue to follow that direction, but we are open to adjustments to policies/procedures to align with the guidance from the federal and provincial government.91裸聊视频�

Malcolmson said B.C. RCMP and municipal forces have already moved away from possession charges, but are still making seizures. Statistics Canada data shows 1,629 people were charged in B.C. under the Controlled Drugs and Seizures Act in 2020.

In April, members of the ministry91裸聊视频檚 Decriminalization Core Planning Table wrote a letter to federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Carolyn Bennett that called for a non-cumulative approach to possession.

91裸聊视频淚n order to reduce 75 per cent of drug seizures, which should be a reasonable target given the stated long and short-term policy objectives of decriminalization, threshold levels should be at least over seven grams for opioids, five grams for cocaine, and four grams for amphetamines.91裸聊视频�

The letter, which includes signatures from the BC Centre on Substance Use, VANDU and doctors from the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, said there was support for non-cumulative quantities of 4.5 grams, but that Malcolmson had not taken their feedback when deciding on the cumulative total of 4.5 grams.

Malcolmson defended B.C.91裸聊视频檚 request to the federal government, which included a proposed annual review of the threshold quantity, and said it was informed by the consultation process.

91裸聊视频淥ur level was based on the evidence that people who struggle 91裸聊视频� brought to that table, but with a strong commitment from the federal government to monitor and evaluate, and to amend the decriminalization exemption that we91裸聊视频檝e received if evidence shows that people are being decriminalized.91裸聊视频�

She acknowledged several other shortcomings in the federal exemption.

Harm-reduction experts argue more potent drugs could be introduced into the already dangerous market as a way for users to compensate for the low-possession threshold.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e certainly concerned about the criminalization and about unintended impacts,91裸聊视频� said Malcolmson.

The B.C. Corners Service found tested in March contained fentanyl, while 30 per cent contained benzodiazepines, which don91裸聊视频檛 respond to naloxone treatment. The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction said in May , a synthetic opioid, in drugs that is more potent than fentanyl.

The limit of 2.5 grams will also be a challenge, she said, for people living in rural communities or remote locations where transportation to supply is a barrier.

91裸聊视频淲e certainly had both representation and strong concerns from rural users in mind when we built our application. We will be watching very carefully that there are not unintended consequences.91裸聊视频�

Users under 18 years old are also left out of the exemption.

Malcolmson said consultation with the ministry91裸聊视频檚 Decriminalization Core Planning Table did not lead to a call for youth to be included in the new rules. Instead, she said users who aren91裸聊视频檛 yet adults found to be in possession of illicit drugs will instead be offered alternatives to charges.

She also kept the door open to more being done for youth users.

91裸聊视频淲e did identify in our application that we think that is important work ahead, but we wanted to take this first fundamental step. We91裸聊视频檙e going to start with adults, that91裸聊视频檚 a very clear call we got from people with lived experience, and we91裸聊视频檒l learn based on that. Then we91裸聊视频檙e going to be in a position to amend and expand.91裸聊视频�

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| tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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