The BCCLA made the following recommendations to British Columbia’s Select Standing Committee on Health regarding their examination of the urgent and ongoing illicit drug toxicity and overdose crisis.
Recommendations
• The government should use all legal and intergovernmental powers to decriminalize all drug possession for personal use, as well as the sharing or selling of drugs for subsistence, to support personal drug use costs, or to provide a safe supply.
• Redistribute resources from the enforcement of these harmful drug laws to non-coercive, voluntary policies, programs, and services that protect and promote people’s health and human rights, including health, education, housing, and social services that support people who use drugs, have been released from prison or are incarcerated due to conviction for drug-related offences, and promote the safety and well-being of communities.