Front Burner The 'compassion club' fighting Canada's drug laws
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Dec 9, 2025 Michelle Gamage, a health reporter at The Tyee, dives into the provocative story of the Drug User Liberation Front (DULF), founded by activists Jeremy Kalicum and Eris Nyx to combat the overdose crisis in Vancouver. She discusses their radical approach of selling clean, tested drugs and the resulting legal battle after their arrest. Gamage highlights how this court case could reshape harm reduction laws across Canada and explores the ongoing controversy surrounding drug policies and public opinion on safer supplies.
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Safer Supply By Testing Illicit Drugs
- DOLF sourced heroin, cocaine, and meth from the dark web, tested them, and sold them at cost to members as a safer alternative to the contaminated street supply.
- The founders argued this reduced overdoses and removed money from organized crime by offering known potency and purity.
Members Report Stability And Fewer Overdoses
- Compassion Club members in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside reported more community, stability, and fewer overdoses while accessing tested drugs.
- DOLF's internal study found members overdosed less and had fewer hospital and police interactions during its operation.
Local Support Preceded Federal Pushback
- DOLF sought engagement with police and multiple government levels from the start and received tacit acceptance before political backlash.
- Vancouver Coastal Health funded testing and provided a free storefront while Health Canada denied an exemption request.