The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police is calling for the decriminalization of personal possession of small amounts of illicit drugs.
The proposal includes measures to help divert people away from the criminal justice system through health care and social services.
It comes as the result of a report prepared by the Association’s Special Purpose Committee on the Decriminalization of Illicit Drugs.
You can read the full report here.
The Association says it recognizes that substance use disorder is a public health issue, and they agree with evidence that suggests the decriminalization of simple possession is an “effective way to reduce” the public health and harm to public safety associated with substance use.
The report says people who experience substance use disorder face repercussions including criminal records, stigma, risk of overdose, and the transmission of blood-borne diseases.
Decriminalization is seen as a potential solution to the use of drugs like methamphetamine. A House of Commons Standing Committee examining the impact of methamphetamine use in Canada last year recommended the decriminalization of simple possession of small quantities of illicit drugs.
