B.C. ends decriminalization pilot project after concerns about public drug use

B.C. announced it will not seek a federal renewal of its decriminalization pilot, saying the program had not delivered the hoped-for results. The province said it will shift focus toward building up voluntary and involuntary treatment options.

B.C. announced it will end its decriminalization pilot and will not ask the federal government to renew the exemption. Officials said the pilot, which allowed people to carry up to 2.5 grams of some substances without confiscation by police, had not delivered the results they hoped for. The government said it will shift its focus toward building voluntary and involuntary treatment options for people with addiction. Key points: - Provincial officials, including Josie Osborne, said the pilot had not delivered the expected results. - The government will not request a federal renewal of the exemption that permitted limited possession. - The pilot allowed possession of up to 2.5 grams of certain substances without confiscation by police, as previously announced. - Officials said the province will focus on expanding voluntary and involuntary treatment options for people with addiction. Summary: The decision ends the current exemption and refocuses provincial policy toward treatment services. Officials described the move as prioritizing access to help and treating addiction as a health issue rather than a criminal justice matter. The immediate procedural step is that the province will not seek renewal of the federal exemption.