Nelson害羞草研究所檚 police chief says it isn害羞草研究所檛 yet clear how the decriminalization of drug possession in B.C. will be enforced.

The federal and provincial government害羞草研究所檚 joint announcement on June 2, that an exemption would be made in B.C. for 2.5 grams of illicit drugs as of Jan. 31, 2023, included several stipulations for what is and isn害羞草研究所檛 considered a criminal offence.

The exemption says adults 18 years and older won害羞草研究所檛 be arrested or charged for personal possession up to a combined total of 2.5 grams.

But Chief Donovan Fisher of the Nelson Police Department says there害羞草研究所檚 been no guidance for what officers should do if they discover a person has more than what is allowed.

害羞草研究所淒o the police need to carry little scales around to determine where the cutoff is? And is it 2.6 or 2.7 grams? Is the policy going to be that害羞草研究所檚 seizable and arrestable, or is there discretion built-in?害羞草研究所�

Fisher said there害羞草研究所檚 also confusion over the federal direction that police will provide information on health and social services as well as voluntary referrals. Should the police carry an intake assessment or escort a person to the hospital?

Fisher doubts it but has not heard otherwise. Police training is among the reasons included in the federal announcement for the seven-month delay to the start of decriminalization.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not all clear as to what action the police are expected to take when running into the situation.害羞草研究所�

The BC Association of Chiefs of Police told Black Press Media that it had originally wanted , but that it supports 2.5 grams.

B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson told the Nelson Star there will be police who have discretion on a case-by-case basis, and

Fisher says that the description is too vague without direction for his officers.

害羞草研究所淚f somebody has five grams of cocaine, very likely they害羞草研究所檙e going to get arrested and the product is going to get seized. But 2.7 grams, OK well here we are back to the question of are the police going to be required to carry scales and then how much leeway do you give for the baggie and how much air is in the bag?

害羞草研究所淚t can get quite ridiculous.害羞草研究所�

One step forward, 2.5 steps back

The announcement was met with tentative praise and plenty of criticism from decriminalization advocates.

Amber Streukens, ANKORS害羞草研究所� harm-reduction coordinator in Nelson, said she has mixed feelings about the plan.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 exciting, it害羞草研究所檚 historic, it害羞草研究所檚 groundbreaking. We害羞草研究所檙e definitely making change, it害羞草研究所檚 a move in the right direction,害羞草研究所� said Streukens.

害羞草研究所淗owever, I害羞草研究所檓 worried about those who will be left behind, specifically folks who work in remote settings, live in rural and remote locations, folks who live on reserve land, and importantly folks with substance-use dependency.害羞草研究所�

The ministry害羞草研究所檚 core planning table, which included various harm-reduction organizations in B.C., had suggested a non-cumulative total of 4.5 grams during consultations. Groups including the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users were then angered by the announced cumulative threshold of 2.5 grams, which to make an impact.

Streukens shares that concern. She thinks the plan creates a two-tier system that decriminalizes casual users but not those who suffer from substance use disorder. It also, she says, forces users to more regularly access a supply that has killed over 9,400 British Columbians since the public health emergency was declared in 2016.

害羞草研究所淚t doesn害羞草研究所檛 capture the needs of those at risk of toxic drug poisoning. It doesn害羞草研究所檛 capture the needs of those most marginalized from the drug war.害羞草研究所�

In April, Streukens interviewed 27 people who live rurally and use drugs. She found 75 per cent of respondents bought more than 2.5 grams at one time in the previous year, 47 per cent travelled more than 50 kilometres weekly for their supply, and 63 per cent also purchased for more than one person during their trips.

These are the users, Streukens says, who the new rules don害羞草研究所檛 help.

害羞草研究所淲e have huge transportation barriers. I can害羞草研究所檛 necessarily leave community every day so I need to purchase for a few days. Folks have limited mobility and limited access to transportation.害羞草研究所�

Last week害羞草研究所檚 announcement also did not include any changes to safe supply initiatives.

A released in March found safe supply options decreased the risk of overdoses and reliance on street drugs.

Dr. Michael Vance provides opioid agonist therapy to substance users in Nelson. The treatment, which prescribes specific amounts of opioids such as morphine or hydromorphone, reduces withdrawal and craving symptoms.

Vance says he doesn害羞草研究所檛 believe provincial health authorities are ready to support safe supply and that its efficacy is still being studied.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a bit of an unknown so a lot of doctors aren害羞草研究所檛 really comfortable with it,害羞草研究所� said Vance. 害羞草研究所淓ven doctors who are in addiction medicine aren害羞草研究所檛 doing a ton of it. [Decriminalization] is a positive first step but it really isn害羞草研究所檛 that great for the majority of the patients that I have.害羞草研究所�

Vance害羞草研究所檚 clinic is one of only two in Nelson that offer safe supply options. He criticized Interior Health for providing safe supply in larger centres such as Kelowna or Kamloops, but not committing to programs in smaller cities.

He hopes the public becomes more active in the crisis.

害羞草研究所淵ou really need to write letters and contact your health authority. 害羞草研究所� I don害羞草研究所檛 think enough people who are drug users, or family members of drug users, are actually talking to their health authorities and making official complaints.害羞草研究所�

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| tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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