Local addiction advocates would like to see Saskatchewan try decriminalizing possession right along side British Columbia. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Drug Decriminalization

Local lawyer hopes for more decriminalization efforts in Saskatchewan

Jun 3, 2022 | 12:00 PM

In a move applauded by harm reduction experts, British Columbia will soon decriminalize possession of small amounts of illegal drugs. The Canadian government has allowed British Columbia to try an experiment of a limit of 2.5 grams for the next three years.

People with that amount of drugs won’t be arrested or charged for them, which many advocates say is helpful. However, it may be a step too short to solve the major problems of overdoses and gang violence.

“I think it’s an excellent first step,” said Julia Quigley, a staff lawyer in the Prince Albert Legal Aid office. “I think that there’s a lot more work to be done. Some key points there, people are saying the 2.5-gram cap is too low. What it does is potentially create more danger in that in order to remain under the cap, people might need to go out and get more batches of drugs to stay under the limit at any given time.”

One of the biggest problems posed by illicit drugs, especially in Saskatchewan, is the overdoses they cause. The lower limits on legal drugs in British Columbia do not, according to Quigley, do much to prevent overdoses on their own.

“We really need to be looking at some innovative solutions in this province,” Quigley said. “We have very high levels of addiction and a lot of violence flows from problems with addiction in our communities.”

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Drug-related violence and gang violence are two other major issues stemming from addiction, and to solve these, Quigley said there will need to be more outside-the-box thinking to take away the profitability of selling drugs illegally. This may include safe consumption sites, something British Columbia has also made some headway with but something Saskatchewan has been slower with.

“How can we remove the profit aspect of drug trafficking so that it’s not stirring violence and other criminal related issues?” Quigley said. “By making sure that people who are addicted to drugs have safe drugs to use. We’re seeing some reticence on the part of our government here.”

While the small limit on drugs for personal use won’t eliminate overdoses directly, there is one way in which Quigley said it might make a small dent in the problem.

“The one positive that I do see from it is reducing the stigma around drug use,” said Quigley. “We know that in society there’s a lot of stigma and people are sort of driven underground when they’re consuming drugs. If you’re alone, if you’re not under supervision or in the company of other people, you’re that much more likely to overdose and not get any assistance.”

Quigley added the federal government doesn’t always want to wade into areas of provincial jurisdiction, which might explain why they’re not trying to encourage this anywhere other than British Columbia at the moment.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP