Opposition leader wants crack and opioids banned from B.C. beaches and parks
While 4/20 is the day many people take to public beaches to smoke pot — B.C. United is calling on the governing NDP to bring in a province-wide ban on using recently decriminalized drugs at beaches, parks, and playgrounds.
Municipalities are responsible for making rules about how public places are used. Yet the opposition thinks the province can bring in B.C.-wide legislation to ban opioid and crack use from the same places.
From January 31, 2023 to January 31, 2026 Health Canada is allowing adults 18 and older to avoid arrest and charges for possessing up to 2.5 grams combined of opioids, crack and powder cocaine, meth and ecstasy.
Vancouver's Police Chief Adam Palmer said he supports the idea of a ban because "it's just common sense."
Kevin Falcon, the leader of the party formerly known as the B.C. Liberals, said he's hearing from police officers who are concerned about people using hard drugs in places families hang out.
"The problem is, you've taken a tool away from the police that now don't have the ability to go to someone that's say at Spanish Banks, or a local park or playground that's doing whatever drug of choice they're doing, to be able to take that away now, because it's decriminalized," added Falcon.
The ministry of mental health and addictions rejects that. In a statement to CTV News it said, only possession is decriminalized and it's still illegal to be intoxicated.
B.C. United also said some municipal councils are encountering pushback from local health officials about putting in city-wide bans.
On Wednesday, Jennifer Whiteside, the mental health and addictions minister, said it was appropriate for councils to get information from local health officers.
"I understand that the Sicamous municipality bylaw has been passed. There has been engagement with the medical health officer, and that's what municipalities are doing. They are engaging appropriately with their medical health officers to determine what the local conditions are," Whiteside said.
There is a ban on using these drugs at schools and daycares but not other public places.
The ministry's statement went on to say, "... implementing blanket bylaws does not address the underlying causes related to addiction and may undermine the goals of decriminalization."
That's because it may encourage people to use alone, and increase the risk the user may die of an overdose due to the toxic drug supply.
B.C. declared a public health emergency in April of 2016 and continues to set records for illicit drug overdose deaths.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Scottie Scheffler isn't the first pro golfer to be arrested during a tournament
Scottie Scheffler's arrest hours before his second-round tee time at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, will go down as one of the most shocking in professional golf history. It certainly wasn't the first, though.
NEW What a wildfire survivor says she regrets not grabbing before leaving home
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta border: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Canadian convicted of attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer sentenced to 30 years
The man convicted of attempting to kidnap then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a hammer was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison.
World No. 1 golfer charged with police officer assault before PGA Championship second round
World number one golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested and charged with the assault of a police officer in what he called a 'chaotic situation' before being released in time to start his second round at the PGA Championship on Friday.
Australia's richest woman seeks removal of her portrait from exhibition
Art is subjective. And while many artists long to share their work with the world, there's no guarantee that the audience will understand it, or even like it.
B.C. optometrist warns against trending eye colour change procedure
A medical procedure that can permanently change a person's eye colour may be trending on social media, but a B.C. optometrist is warning about the significant risks associated.