In Canada, a New Democratic Party (NDP) member of Parliament has introduced a private members’ bill to decriminalize drug possession. Gord Johns introduced Bill C-216, which was seconded by NDP MP Rachel Blaney in February. If passed, the new piece of legislation would seek to expand harm reduction and improve drug treatment efforts across the country. Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the NDP, also supports the bill.

Both Johns and Blaney represent ridings in British Columbia, a province that has long struggled with a drug-poisoning crisis. Last year, BC experienced its highest opioid overdose count. Over 2,200 people lost their lives — a jump of 26 percent over 2020.

Drugs should indeed be decriminalized with an eye strictly focused on legalization. I’ve covered this terrain before in writing and on a podcast. The case for decriminalization was strong before the pandemic and it is even stronger now. As death tolls mount, local governments continue to squander resources on policing and incarceration. Meanwhile, the failed policy of prohibition continues to destroy lives. Decriminalization is supported by the United Nations and its World Health Organization, Canada’s police chiefs, and many others.