The B.C. government害羞草研究所檚 overhaul of decriminalization is a band-aid solution and the pilot has done more harm than good.

Those were Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield害羞草研究所檚 comments after the NDP announced Friday (Apr. 26) that it would make illicit drug use illegal in all public spaces, including inside hospitals, on transit, and in parks.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 want to be too harsh but this is classic NDP, David Eby political damage control,害羞草研究所� Merrifield said. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 created chaos with this disastrous policy and now he害羞草研究所檚 trying to mask the obvious conclusion which is to scrap the entire failed experiment.害羞草研究所�

Premier Eby said the changes are part of new measures 害羞草研究所渢o make sure police have the tools they need to ensure safe communities as treatment options are expanded to keep people alive longer.害羞草研究所�

READ MORE: B.C. to ban drug use in public spaces, including inside hospitals

The measures would not recriminalize possession in private residences, where someone is legally sheltering, at overdose prevention sites or drug-checking locations.

Merrifield said the changes have created more chaos, such as evidenced by the release of a from Northern Health providing guidance to staff following what it calls an 害羞草研究所渋ncrease in admissions of patients with possession of substances and using substances while in hospital.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲hat are the rules? The reality is this whole thing needs to go, not tweaks around the edges.害羞草研究所�

BC United has pressured the NDP to end decriminalization.

害羞草研究所淏ut not without replacing it,害羞草研究所� Merrifield added. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 about desperately needed treatment beds and giving people who are drug addicted or street-entrenched hope rather than a lifetime of regulated drug use.害羞草研究所�

Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas, and other Okanagan mayors, urged the NDP not to allow public drug use near areas where families and children gather.

害羞草研究所淭oday害羞草研究所檚 announcement was encouraging news,害羞草研究所� Dyas said. 害羞草研究所淭he City of Kelowna has been a leading advocate, and I have taken a strong position to have parks, playgrounds, splash pads, business entrances, and public transit exempt as part of the province害羞草研究所檚 illicit drug decriminalization pilot project.害羞草研究所�

The mayor added he was grateful to the province for giving the RCMP the tools and authority to ensure public safety.

Under decriminalization, police are prohibited from arresting, charging, or seizing adults in possession of up to 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, crack, crystal meth, MDMA, or fentanyl.

The changes require federal approval and the province has already had discussions with the federal government.

with files from Lauren Collin, Wolf Depner

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