British Columbia will not be able to move forward with a new law regulating drug use in public places for now because of the risks to drug users, the province's Supreme Court ruled in a ruling released Friday.
• Also read: Drugs in British Columbia: After decriminalization, the province tightens the screws
• Also read: Opioid crisis: Nearly 35,000 deaths in less than 7 years in the country
After a year of decriminalizing hard drug use in the province, the government decided last November to propose a law banning drug use in public places, including parks, beaches and playgrounds reserved for children.
However, the Association of Harm Reduction Nurses, a pan-Canadian non-profit organization, has turned to the courts, arguing that if drug users are forced to leave public places, they could be forced to isolate themselves, further endangering their lives.
“It appears that public drug use in the company of others is often the safest, healthiest and/or only option available to an individual due to a lack of supervised consumption services, indoor drug use locations and housing,” commented Judge Christopher Hinkson.
“The application of the law will cause irreparable harm,” he added.
The latter therefore decided to suspend the application of the law until March 31 and wait for the judicial debate on its constitutionality.
More than 2000 dead
Provincial Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said he was concerned for families when the legislation was introduced this fall.
“We want people to be able to come and get help without fear of arrest, but we believe that places where families and children are are not places where people should use drugs,” he said.
The law would allow police to impose heavy fines and confiscate drugs from users who refuse to comply.
British Columbia is at the forefront of the opioid crisis, which is ravaging the country largely because fentanyl is mixed with other drugs without users knowing (or not).
As of Oct. 31, 2,039 fatal overdoses have been recorded in the province, setting up another particularly deadly year after 2,377 deaths in 2022. Fentanyl was involved in 83% of deaths this year.