B.C. First Nations say they were excluded from decision to end drug decriminalization pilot

B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne announced the province will not renew the three-year exemption that allowed limited drug decriminalization, and First Nations health and justice groups say they were not consulted on the decision.

B.C. announced it will not seek to renew a federal exemption that allowed a three-year decriminalization pilot. The exemption covered possession up to a total of 2.5 grams of certain drugs for people 18 and older and began on Jan. 31, 2023. First Nations partners involved in planning say they were not engaged in the decision to end the pilot. The provincial Health Minister said the pilot did not deliver the results the government had hoped for. Known details: - The provincial government will not renew the exemption from the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act; the exemption expires at the end of this month. - The First Nations Health Authority, which sat on the pilot's core planning table, and the BC First Nations Justice Council said they were not engaged in the decision-making process. - The Ministry of Health said it has begun notifying stakeholders, including Indigenous partners, municipalities, health authorities and service providers, of the decision. - Related data released the same day highlighted ongoing disparities: a Statistics Canada report showed Indigenous adults were overrepresented in custody, and FNHA data for Jan–Jun 2025 reported First Nations deaths from illicit drugs at a higher rate than other British Columbians. Summary: The provincial decision ends the three-year decriminalization pilot and will take effect when the current exemption lapses at month-end. First Nations health and justice groups say they were not consulted, while the Ministry of Health has started notifying stakeholders. Undetermined at this time.