Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Let users carry certain amounts of drugs: mayor

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Apr, 2021 07:04 PM
  • Let users carry certain amounts of drugs: mayor

The City of Vancouver has outlined the amounts of various drugs people should be allowed to carry for a three-day supply as it seeks a federal exemption to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use.

Its proposal aimed at combating the overdose crisis is part of an application to Health Canada and lists possession thresholds for four main drugs: opioids such as heroin and fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine and amphetamine.

The recommended amounts for opioids are listed as two grams, while three grams are proposed for cocaine, one gram or 10 rocks for crack cocaine and 1.5 grams for amphetamine, based on long-term studies of drug users.

Mayor Kennedy Stewart says the city has worked with police, the health authority's chief medical health officer and experts to determine the three-day thresholds that would prevent people from seeking drugs on a daily basis.

The effort is aimed at removing criminal sanctions and reducing stigma as part of a health-focused approach to substance use.

British Columbia has also asked for a federal exemption to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use after a record number of people died from overdose last year.

MORE National ARTICLES

Federal prison chaplains ratify first contract

Federal prison chaplains ratify first contract
The United Steelworkers union says the contract — the chaplains' first collective agreement — provides significant wage hikes for most employees, with pay increasing overall by nine per cent during the next year.

Federal prison chaplains ratify first contract

Variant cases to rise in B.C. into May: modelling

Variant cases to rise in B.C. into May: modelling
Jens von Bergmann says based on current vaccination projections, the number of new variant cases should continue to rise into next month

Variant cases to rise in B.C. into May: modelling

Kids less likely to transmit COVID-19 virus: study

Kids less likely to transmit COVID-19 virus: study
Results showed that compared with adults, children were less likely to grow virus in culture and had lower viral concentrations, suggesting they are not the main drivers of transmission.

Kids less likely to transmit COVID-19 virus: study

B.C. teacher charged with child exploitation

B.C. teacher charged with child exploitation
RCMP in 100 Mile House say 33-year-old Vincent Collins of 108 Mile Ranch was arrested while on his way to work.

B.C. teacher charged with child exploitation

Order issued to end encampment in Vancouver park

Order issued to end encampment in Vancouver park
The order comes after the province, city and park board signed a formal agreement this week to end the 10-month encampment that has swelled to roughly 400 tents.

Order issued to end encampment in Vancouver park

B.C. liquor servers to get pay boost

B.C. liquor servers to get pay boost
Labour Minister Harry Bains says he's proud to put an end to the discriminatory lower minimum wage for liquor servers, 80 per cent of whom are women.

B.C. liquor servers to get pay boost