Canada province tests decriminalizing hard drugs - RawStory

[GGoss]

Canada province tests decriminalizing hard drugs - RawStory

A Canadian province on Tuesday decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and other hard drugs in a radical policy shift to address an opioid overdose crisis that has killed thousands.

Adults found in British Columbia with up to 2.5 grams of these drugs, rather than face jail or fines, will be provided with information on how to access addiction treatment programs.

Police will also not seize their drugs.

Sellers and traffickers of hard drugs, however, will continue to face criminal prosecution during the three-year pilot project.

Link: https://www.rawstory.com/canada-province-tests-decriminalizing-hard-drugs/

[Jerry2144]

1. Makes sense

Since zero tolerance and the current approach still is not working after all of these years. It’s time to try something else


We probably should also look into reasons why people turn to drugs in the first place. Maybe if we fix those reasons why, we could reduce drug use.

[cbabe]

2. Wondering how users will get their drugs if selling/trafficking is still illegal?

[GGoss]

3. The Other Drug Dealers, Silly

Big Pharma

[cbabe]

4. Ah. Sacklers branching out into meth, etc.

[GGoss]

5. I Think I Remember Them Doing That In Other Countries...

Goes something like:

You sign a document validating that both you and your doctor agree that you are addicted to a substance.

You also sign a document agreeing to seek treatment for said addiction.

You are given a subscription for the substance that you can have filled at some pharmacy or other.

You pay the going LEGAL rate.

You receive Pharmaceutical Quality substance, pure and uncut.

If I remember correctly...

In the 1980s, Cocaine on the street was going for about $2,000 an ounce.

Pharmaceutical Cocaine (Merck, I think) was sold to doctors and hospitals at around $2.50 an ounce.

This may not be a perfect solution, but you sure as hell take the profit motive of the cartels away.