Canadian Parliament Debates Drug Decriminalization
A group of politicians in the Canadian Parliament has proposed a plan urging authorities to decriminalize the use of all drugs and psychoactive substances, as an alternative to the current policy of criminalization. The upcoming full legalization of recreational marijuana, along with the introduction of this bill, has prompted a national conversation about the feasibility and consequences of such radical drug policy reforms.
Debates on Decriminalization
The new bill, which calls for the complete decriminalization of psychoactive substances, was authored by a group of progressive members of the ruling Liberal Party of Canada. They believe that fully decriminalizing currently illegal substances would allow the country to address drug use as a public health issue rather than a criminal one, helping many citizens avoid incarceration and receive the help they need. The bill’s authors hope that Parliament will officially begin considering the proposal early next year.
This unusual idea has sparked active debate among politicians and the general public. Many progressive Canadians agree with the need to reconsider the government’s approach to people suffering from drug addiction. As examples of successful reform, politicians point to countries like Norway and Portugal, which have already implemented full decriminalization and serve as models for alternative approaches to strict criminalization.
Specifically, since 2001, the Portuguese government has stopped prosecuting citizens for drug use. Instead of criminal penalties, authorities issue small fines and refer offenders to voluntary drug rehabilitation programs. Currently, Portuguese law enforcement focuses solely on drug trafficking, while medical professionals handle the treatment of those suffering from physiological and psychological dependence on psychoactive substances.
“All available indicators of the country’s well-being clearly show that the path of full decriminalization has helped Portugal address its drug use problem,” says Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, a Liberal Party MP and one of the bill’s authors. “My colleagues and I believe that by following this example, our country can also tackle addiction by shifting responsibility for its resolution to healthcare professionals.”
Of course, some members of Parliament, particularly from the Conservative Party of Canada, have spoken out against full decriminalization, arguing that the lack of serious penalties would only encourage drug use among the population.
“If we admit that there’s nothing morally wrong with drug use, we turn a blind eye to the fact that many of these substances are extremely dangerous to a person’s health and social life,” says Rob Nicholson, a Conservative Party MP. “Furthermore, decriminalization does nothing to address organized crime groups, who will continue to run their illegal businesses distributing drugs right under the police’s nose.”
The Approach of Full Marijuana Legalization
It’s not surprising that a country preparing to fully legalize recreational marijuana is also considering the decriminalization of all drugs. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has supported full marijuana reform for the past five years, and the vast majority of Canadians want the right to freely purchase and grow marijuana at home.
Currently, the Canadian recreational marijuana market is expected to formally open by July 1 of this year. Federal and regional politicians are actively working on drafting and updating regulations for the new market, aiming to be ready for the rapidly approaching launch date.
Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould introduced the formal federal legalization bill, known as “C-45” or the “Cannabis Act,” to Parliament in April of last year. By November 2017, the bill was passed by an overwhelming majority (200 out of 282 MPs supported it).
It’s clear that decriminalizing all substances currently banned by federal law is a much more radical step than legalizing marijuana at the federal level. As a result, many politicians remain skeptical of such a sweeping idea. However, it’s possible that the success of marijuana legalization could encourage Parliament to seriously consider adopting a similar decriminalization bill next year.