Decriminalizing simple possession of illicit drugs

On January 31, 2023, provincial legislation came into effect to decriminalize the personal possession of small quantities of illicit drugs through a three-year Health Canada exemption (January 31, 2023 to January 31, 2026).

This pilot, granted by the Government of Canada to the Province of British Columbia, removed criminal penalties for people in possession of a small amount of certain drugs for personal use. We supported this move alongside the Vancouver Police Department as part of a larger strategy to respond to the ongoing toxic drug crisis. Substance use harms are first and foremost public health and social issues and should be treated as such.

Review the Government of BC’s May 2022 news release about drug decriminalization External website, opens in new tab

Review the Vancouver Police Department’s March 2024 news release on drug decriminalization External website, opens in new tab

We are committed to maintaining our parks and streets as a place for all residents to safely live, work, and play.

In April 2024, the Province of BC requested modifications to the Federal government’s Decriminalization Policy to ban illicit drug use in public spaces. Health Canada approved this request on May 7, 2024.

We want to make sure public spaces are safe and welcoming for all residents while continuing to prioritize the health and well-being of people who use drugs. In combating the toxic drug crisis, we can help prevent the resulting loss of life and related harms. We value the continued collaboration with the Government of BC on these essential issues.

Review the Government of BC’s April 2024 news release about banning public drug use External website, opens in new tab

January 31, 2024 marked the end of the first year of BC’s 3-year decriminalization pilot program. While 2023 was the deadliest year on record for the toxic drug crisis with 644 suspected unregulated drug deaths in Vancouver, the BC Coroner attributed this to increasing drug toxicity and not to provincial decriminalization efforts.

Review the BC Coroner’s data dashboard for more information External website, opens in new tab

Early data provided by the BC Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions PDF file (2 MB) suggests that more people who use drugs are accessing life-saving supports. Harm reduction measures like drug-checking, overdose prevention and supervised consumption services, and Take Home Naloxone kits have remained steady or continued to increase in 2023.

We will continue working closely with the BC Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions and other key community stakeholders to monitor the impacts of the Decriminalization Pilot on all residents.