When B.C. decriminalized small amounts of drugs in January 2023, it was seen as a promising weapon in the battle against the drug crisis. In May, B.C. walked that policy back, saying it caused disorder in the streets.
In a similar move, Toronto tried decriminalizing, but the feds quickly shot down their attempt. So what gives? Was this year-long experiment a disaster? Was it not given enough time to flourish?
To find out, Mattea Roach asked professor Gillian Kolla, journalist Andrea Woo, and former drug user and advocate Guy Felicella.
Host: Mattea Roach
Credits: Noor Azrieh (Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)
Guests: Guy Felicella, Andrea Woo, Gillian Kolla
Background reading:
- #36 Is Canada Ready to Decriminalize Drugs? – The Backbench
- Detox beds in B.C. routinely sit empty because of staff shortages – The Globe and Mail
- Opinion: Backtracking on drug decriminalization is politically cowardly – and illogical – The Globe and Mail
- British Columbia drops decriminalization of drugs in public – The Guardian
- Addictions minister had ‘deep concerns’ with Toronto’s decriminalization pitch – Global News
- Decriminalization in B.C.
- Decriminalizing people who use drugs in B.C.
If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.
You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.