Operating Grant: Evaluation of the British Columbia Exemption to Allow for Personal Possession of Small Amounts of Illegal Drugs
Progress Report Lay Summary: April 2025 – October 2025

Nominated Principal Investigator: Jürgen Rehm, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH); Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (CRISM) – Ontario Node

Background

Background information can be found here: Semi-annual Meeting – November 2024

Progress Report Lay Summary: April 2025 – October 2025

During this reporting period, the research team submitted findings from harm reduction (HR) and opioid agonist treatment (OAT) interviews showing that decriminalization did not lead to service adjustments; sites faced persistent staffing and resource shortages. The second round of HR/OAT surveys was also launched.

The team analyzed national police data on drug-related incidents with results demonstrating that decriminalization was associated with a reduction in possession incidents in B.C. but did not alter charging practices or case outcomes. Analyses of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) data similarly found no significant changes in overdoses, OAT engagement, or HR utilization. Supplementary analyses countered claims that decriminalization increased hospitalizations, finding no clear association.

Data from people who use drugs (PWUD) indicated stigma, drug use, and police interactions remained largely unchanged or experienced modest improvements during decriminalization; these were reversed after the May 2024 amendment. Police interviews highlighted training gaps, particularly regarding the policy amendment.

To support knowledge translation, the team published four infographics and media reports, accessible on the CRISM Ontario website, submitted/published eleven manuscripts, including a media content analysis showing how reporting has negatively shaped public opinion on decriminalization, and a manuscript documenting a decline in public support for decriminalization between years one and two, and delivered eleven presentations across academic, policy, and community forums.

For more information

Additional information about this project can be found on the OCRINT webpage as well as the CIHR website.

More information on CIHR's Research in Substance Use initiative can be found online or email rsu-rst@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

For more information, visit CIHR's Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction or email inmha-insmt@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

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