441-02473 (Justice)

WHEREAS:

• The Government of Canada granted an exemption under the Controlled Substances Act to decriminalize the personal possession of illicit drugs in the Province of British Columbia for three years;
• After one year of decriminalization, B.C. experienced a record breaking 2511 unregulated drug deaths, higher than all other causes of death combined;
• Under this exemption, the federal government enabled B.C. the ability to prescribe fentanyl to minors without required parental consent; and
• There continues to be no evidence that decriminalization and supply of taxpayer hard drugs to those suffering with addiction is reducing overdose deaths.

THEREFORE:

We, the undersigned citizens and permanent residents of Canada, call upon the federal government to reverse their exemption under the Controlled Substances Act to cease illicit drug decriminalization and instead, focus taxpayer funding on increasing availability of timely and effective treatment.