Canadian police chiefs call for decriminalization of small quantities of drugs

A group of Canadian police chiefs is calling on the federal government to decriminalize the possession of all drugs for personal use. The report by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), which represents approximately 1,300 police chiefs from federal, First Nations, provincial, regional, transportation, and military police forces in Canada, also recommends that a public health approach to substance use be adopted to address the current opioid crisis.

«We must adopt new and innovative approaches if we are to reverse the current trend of drug overdoses affecting communities across Canada,» he states the report.

«Simply arresting individuals for the mere possession of illicit drugs has proven ineffective,» the committee continues in its report. «Research conducted in other countries that have chosen to adopt a health-focused approach rather than a law enforcement approach to problematic drug use has yielded positive results.»

«The ACCP recognizes that drug use and abuse is a public health issue,» said declared Adam Palmer, president of the ACCP and Vancouver police chief. «Being addicted to a controlled substance is not a crime and should not be treated as such.»

Police chiefs believe that a partnership between social services, the police, health care providers, and other government agencies would be more effective in combating drug use and abuse than criminalization. The police could then focus on the manufacture, importation, and distribution of illicit drugs rather than getting bogged down in minor drug possession cases.

«We recommend that Canada’s approach […] be replaced with a public health approach that diverts people away from the criminal justice system,» Palmer said. «Often, our officers are the first point of contact and the ones who will help individuals access the appropriate services and care pathways.».

The Trudeau Government's Response

Following the release of the CCPA report, Canadian Health Minister Patty Hajdu and Justice Minister David Lametti issued a statement in which they acknowledged the importance of a holistic approach to addressing Canada’s opioid crisis.

« »We appreciate the efforts made by law enforcement officials who are considering alternatives to criminalizing the mere possession of illicit drugs in appropriate cases, and we recognize the importance of reducing barriers to treatment, as well as partnerships between law enforcement and health and social services ,” they said written in the statement.

The ministers also stated that they would continue to take a public health-based approach to the opioid crisis.

«Our government remains committed to advancing evidence-based solutions to help reverse the trend of opioid overdose deaths and other substance-related harms in Canada,» they said.