"Decriminalization of all drug possession is now seen as a critical component of a comprehensive response to the overdose crisis." - BC Centre for Disease Control

“We need to be thinking about the decriminalization of drug use and having legal options for all drug users, including opioid drug users, so that they don’t have to go to the illicit drug market.” - Dr. Patricia Daly, Vancouver Coastal Health

"CMHA recommends decriminalizing all illegal substances for personal use. Decriminalization means that the possession, use and acquisition of illegal drugs would no longer be criminal offences." - Canadian Mental Health Association

"The province cannot wait for action at the federal level. Immediate provincial action is warranted. I recommend that the Province of BC urgently move to decriminalize people who possess controlled substances for personal use.” - Dr Bonnie Henry, BC Chief Health Officer

We should be working to decriminalize the individuals who are at risk in this epidemic." - Dr Perry Kendall, former BC Chief Health Officer

"We see firsthand the impact of criminalization on our clients and our communities. We call on the BC government to take immediate steps to move toward the decriminalization of people who use drugs." - Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC

"The criminalization of people who take drugs actually is contributing to this opioid-overdose emergency." - Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto Chief Health Officer

"The criminalization of illicit drug users is fuelling the HIV epidemic and has resulted in overwhelmingly negative health and social consequences." - BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

9. "We need to stop treating the most vulnerable members of our society like criminals." - Christine Sorensen, President BC Nurses Union

10. "Society must now reject negative criminal sanctions as the source of social control in drug abuse. [BC should be] decriminalizing the possession and use of specific substances." - 1995 BC Chief Coroner’s Report of the Task Force into Illicit Narcotic Overdose Deaths

"Criminalization further marginalizes those living in poverty or at social disadvantage." - Dr. Patrick Smith, CEO of Canadian Mental Health Association

"Criminalizing the possession of drugs for personal use undermines efforts to address the health needs of people struggling with problematic drug use." Joint statement: - Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network - Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network - Canadian Nurses Association

"Canada must adopt a human rights based approach to drug policy... which requires decriminalizing all drugs for personal use."

Joint Statement from:

- Canadian Public Health Association

- Canadian Nurses Association

- Amnesty International

14. "Decriminalize possession of small amounts of narcotics for personal use. Provide treatment options which do not require total abstinence. Allow doctors to prescribe narcotics to drug users."

- Recommendations, 1997 Canadian Nat'l Task Force on HIV-AIDS & Injection Drug Use.

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