drug decriminalization

A photo of the parliament building in Victoria.
7 min 0 31

“Science lost to fear”: BC’s halted drug decriminalization program

Peak Web February 16, 2026

By: Olivia Sherman, Peak Associate In January 2026, the BC government announced their drug decriminalization policy “has not delivered the results we hoped for” and that the province would not seek renewal from the federal government. The three-year pilot program, an exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), began in 2023 and allowed adults over 18 to carry a cumulative 2.5 grams of illicit drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioids, without police confiscation or seizures. As drug deaths increased through the province, it was intended to treat substance use and addiction as a health issue and not…

Continue reading Read more
This is a photo of the SFU Vancouver Harbour Centre campus. It is an aerial photo overlooking the harbour.
4 min 0 2197

VANDU criticizes Vancouver’s new drug policy, says it is not enough

Peak Web February 21, 2023

By: Aditi Dwivedi, News Writer The BC government was granted an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act by Health Canada, to decriminalize the possession of certain illegal drugs from January 31, 2023 to January 31, 2026. The decriminalization…

Continue reading Read more