British Columbia decriminalizes drugs

Today is the day British Columbia decriminalizes drugs.

Although the Canadian province of British Columbia has not decriminalized all drugs, psilocybin mushrooms and lysergamides like LSD remain illegal.

But adults can possess up to 2.5 grams of:

• methamphetamine
• MDMA
• Cocaine (including crack cocaine)
• Opioids (including heroin, fentanyl, and morphine)

The decriminalization of these drugs is part of a three-year federal government pilot program. The exemption expires on January 31, 2026, unless the government revokes it.

Drug decriminalization in British Columbia is similar to policies in nearby Oregon. This begs the question: was drug decriminalization successful in Oregon?

Doesn’t the city of Vancouver essentially already have decriminalization? And what exactly about decriminalization reduces “stigma” or promotes “recovery”?

Decriminalize Vancouver?

British Columbia is decriminalizing drugs for one reason: to reduce the skyrocketing number of drug overdose deaths.

The idea is that decriminalization removes the stigma of addiction. This allows the drug user to enter treatment and recovery without shame or guilt.

In fact, BC’s rationale for decriminalization is “a critical step in ending the shame and stigma that prevents people with drug problems from seeking life-saving help.”

But wouldn’t Vancouver have succeeded in this endeavor if this were true? The Vancouver Police Department has pursued “de facto decriminalization” for nearly a decade.

A 2021 BC Association of Chiefs of Police report found a majority of officers no longer enforced possession of drugs for personal use.

The report reads, “Data shows that the PPSC policy has effectively decriminalized possession of personal quantities of illegal drugs in British Columbia.”

Yet despite Vancouver’s de facto decriminalization, drug overdoses have never been worse.

Oregon Decriminalizes Drugs – Success?

Oregon has the same reasons for decriminalizing drugs as BC does, namely to reduce sky-high overdose death rates.

But how successful were they?

Oregon decriminalized drugs in 2020, but a recent audit by the Oregon Health Authority found that fatal overdoses were increasing along with drug abuse rates.

Oregon was sold the same merchandise list as British Columbia. If you decriminalize hard drugs, users will be more likely to seek treatment.

But Oregon found that less than 1 percent chose to go into rehab.

But what about Portugal?

Portugal decriminalized virtually all drugs in 2001. But like Dr. Julian Somers of the National Post said: “Portugal has 64 therapeutic communities and zero consumption outlets. British Columbia does not have therapeutic communities and consumption sites over 40.”

Also, Portugal has done more than abolish criminal sanctions for addicts. They have been pursuing dealers and suppliers on a large scale. They also increased civil penalties, which included mandatory treatment.

British Columbia does not operate these latter two options.

Meanwhile, Canada’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse. BC barely has enough hospital beds anyway. The waiting time for a medical detox bed is more than 100 days.

The problem with drug decriminalization in British Columbia

Medical detox is the only reason to see healthcare professionals for drug addiction. Everything else is a choice.

The problem with the decriminalization practiced by BC or Oregon is that they still view addiction as a disease or mental disorder. That creates stigma.

The attitudes of health professionals and ‘addiction experts’ contribute to the stigma attached to problem drug use. Their ideology labels individuals as “addicts,” leading to shame and low self-esteem.

They focus on the “chronic” and “progressive nature” of addiction. What better way to instill a sense of hopelessness than by labeling problematic behavior as a brain disease?

Labeling drug use as a mental health problem perpetuates stereotypes about people struggling with substance abuse.

The emphasis on reducing addiction to drugs, rather than helping individuals develop the skills they need to live fulfilling lives without them, also leads to the perception that individuals have no control over their own lives has.

And that’s the biggest problem with drug decriminalization in BC. People should be able to buy and sell any good or service as long as it doesn’t harm anyone. You can’t stop me buying cannabis for alleged “social” harm.

But the ideology surrounding drug use in this country is so confused that you’re wondering what the results of drug decriminalization in BC will be.

End stigma the right way

Because “public health” focuses on external factors such as genetics or the environment, thereby suggesting that individuals have no control over their own behavior, feelings of helplessness and low self-esteem are perpetuated.

And it’s these attitudes that contribute to the stigma surrounding addiction. These attitudes make it difficult for individuals to seek help.

And when they seek help, they are not empowered to take control of their own lives.

Nobody teaches addicts about personal responsibility, self-discovery, and self-transformation. Instead, they are pushed into ineffective 12-step programs, psychoanalysis, or medication.

Wouldn’t a better model teach participants to better understand their motivations and behaviors so they can choose to live a life in their control? One that may or may not involve drug use?

What do you think of decriminalization? Do you think it would be better for people? We also wrote about BC taking steps to decriminalize the drugs in our previous article. If you would like to read it again, please click here. And don’t forget to follow us @cannalifenet.