Penticton council will soon share its displeasure with the B.C. government over the 17-month-old drug decriminalization program.

Municipal politicians voted 6-1 on May 21, to send a letter to the province asking it to 害羞草研究所渋mmediately halt the experimental decriminalization pilot project, and instead focus on building programs and services for recovery and treatment in both small and large communities, for those suffering from addictions.害羞草研究所�

Coun. Isaac Gilbert was the lone vote opposed to sending to letter, which came to be following a notice of motion from Coun. Helena Konanz.

The province害羞草研究所檚 drug decriminalization pilot project launched in January 2023 and is set to run until 2026.

B.C. Premier David Eby in April 2024, however, asked Health Canada to amend a previously issued exemption order to recriminalize the use of hard drugs in public.

害羞草研究所淚 believe that decriminalization was a mistake,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Amelia Boultbee. 害羞草研究所淲e were told that by destigmatizing drugs, people害羞草研究所檚 lives would be saved because they害羞草研究所檙e not going to be doing drugs alone, but that hasn害羞草研究所檛 been what害羞草研究所檚 happened. All we害羞草研究所檝e done is remove one tool from the toolbelt, which is police.害羞草研究所�

Preliminary numbers released by BC Coroners Service suggest that 2023 was the deadliest in the province害羞草研究所檚 history for toxic drug overdoses, with more than 2,500 lives lost. That equates to almost seven deaths per day.

In Penticton, a total of 22 fatal overdoses were recorded in 2023. That害羞草研究所檚 down from the record-setting 30 deaths tallied in 2022.

害羞草研究所淲hether the drugs are decriminalized or illegal, people are still going be using drugs regardless,害羞草研究所� said Gilbert. 害羞草研究所淚 think the biggest downfall the province has done is that when they did the decriminalization of drugs, they didn害羞草研究所檛 come in with the services to be able to provide to people on the street.害羞草研究所�

The first-term councillor added that although he disagrees with urging the B.C. government to halt its drug decriminalization program, he害羞草研究所檇 be in favour of formally asking the province to better support services for people who are struggling with substance abuse.

害羞草研究所淚 think we can all agree the province has done an extremely poor job of funding treatment and recovery,害羞草研究所� replied Boultbee. 害羞草研究所淧eople who decide they actually want help have to wait months or over a year before they can actually get it.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淒ecriminalization has been a failed experiment,害羞草研究所� Coun. James Miller added.

Today in B.C., adults can legally possess small amounts of 害羞草研究所渟ome illicit drugs for personal use in specific places,害羞草研究所� according to the province. Those places include private homes and shelters, as well as overdose prevention and drug-checking service locations.

Mayor Julius Bloomfield said he believes decriminalization can help solve the toxic drug crisis, but more needs to be done to support those efforts.

害羞草研究所淒ecriminalization has worked in the past in different jurisdictions around the world, but only when it害羞草研究所檚 been part of a comprehensive plan,害羞草研究所� Bloomfield stated.

Council害羞草研究所檚 letter will be sent to Eby and Jennifer Whiteside, the province害羞草研究所檚 minister of mental health and addictions.