Drugs: Quebec opens the door to diverting simple possession
A social worker demonstrates how to use a hard drug injection kit at the Le Cactus supervised injection site.
The “epidemic” of overdoses in Quebec is forcing the provincial government to consider new avenues. More hesitant in the face of the decriminalization of all drugs, the Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, juggles with the idea of diversifying simple possession.
This is what the elected member of Borduas evoked on Tuesday, who answered questions from the solidarity deputy Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois in a parliamentary committee. By asking its prosecutors to avoid launching new simple possession charges,
the government could direct hard drug users in courthouses to help resources.
“Perhaps this is an avenue that could be considered,” said Mr. Jolin-Barrette at the Salon rouge of the National Assembly. According to the minister, this is a "very complex file", which will require in-depth discussions.
The “epidemic” of overdoses in Quebec is forcing the provincial government to consider new avenues. More hesitant in the face of the decriminalization of all drugs, the Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, juggles with the idea of diversifying simple possession.
This is what the elected member of Borduas evoked on Tuesday, who answered questions from the solidarity deputy Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois in a parliamentary committee. By asking its prosecutors to avoid launching new simple possession charges,
the government could direct hard drug users in courthouses to help resources.
“Perhaps this is an avenue that could be considered,” said Mr. Jolin-Barrette at the Salon rouge of the National Assembly. According to the minister, this is a "very complex file", which will require in-depth discussions.
"There are issues of dependence, vulnerabilities, organized crime, health ... I am currently in the context of a reflection",
launched the elected CAQ.
A new option
The provincial government does not have jurisdiction over the Criminal Code. If it wanted to decriminalize all drugs, the government of François Legault would have to ask the federal government for it. However, Minister Jolin-Barrette has always been reluctant.
“We have to be careful,” he repeated Tuesday.
But now a new avenue presents itself. Last summer, the Director of Public Prosecutions - the federal equivalent of the Directorate of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions - asked her prosecutors to avoid laying new charges for possession for personal use.
Without removing the possession of substances from the federal legislative framework, this directive has the effect of practically eliminating the prosecution in the matter. And Quebec could "possibly" proceed in the same way, said Simon Jolin-Barrette on Tuesday.
"Urgent"
At the end of 2020 , a coalition of groups asked Quebec to quickly position itself on “diversion”. It is because overdoses are piling up in Quebec, and particularly in Montreal .
In a letter sent to the Minister of Justice, these organizations had urged him to act. Mr. Jolin-Barrette had not answered them.
For Vincent Marcoux, director general of one of the signatory organizations, the Quebec Association of Dependency Intervention Centers, Quebec is beating around the bush.
“Diversion, I see it as a step. Decriminalization would ensure that there is awareness among the population: we are spending justice money which should go to health and social services, ”he argued in an interview with Metro on Tuesday. .
Montreal Public Health has already positioned itself in favor of a complete decriminalization of psychostimulant substances. In his view, this decision would allow better support and greater chances of social reintegration for drug addicts.
Last summer, the national director of public health, Horacio Arruda, agreed. "In terms of public health only, we think that it could be an adequate element," he said.
launched the elected CAQ.
A new option
The provincial government does not have jurisdiction over the Criminal Code. If it wanted to decriminalize all drugs, the government of François Legault would have to ask the federal government for it. However, Minister Jolin-Barrette has always been reluctant.
“We have to be careful,” he repeated Tuesday.
But now a new avenue presents itself. Last summer, the Director of Public Prosecutions - the federal equivalent of the Directorate of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions - asked her prosecutors to avoid laying new charges for possession for personal use.
Without removing the possession of substances from the federal legislative framework, this directive has the effect of practically eliminating the prosecution in the matter. And Quebec could "possibly" proceed in the same way, said Simon Jolin-Barrette on Tuesday.
"Urgent"
At the end of 2020 , a coalition of groups asked Quebec to quickly position itself on “diversion”. It is because overdoses are piling up in Quebec, and particularly in Montreal .
In a letter sent to the Minister of Justice, these organizations had urged him to act. Mr. Jolin-Barrette had not answered them.
For Vincent Marcoux, director general of one of the signatory organizations, the Quebec Association of Dependency Intervention Centers, Quebec is beating around the bush.
“Diversion, I see it as a step. Decriminalization would ensure that there is awareness among the population: we are spending justice money which should go to health and social services, ”he argued in an interview with Metro on Tuesday. .
Montreal Public Health has already positioned itself in favor of a complete decriminalization of psychostimulant substances. In his view, this decision would allow better support and greater chances of social reintegration for drug addicts.
Last summer, the national director of public health, Horacio Arruda, agreed. "In terms of public health only, we think that it could be an adequate element," he said.
François Carabin
Metro
https://journalmetro.com/actualites/national/2635396/drogues-quebec-ouvre-la-porte-a-dejudiciariser-la-possession-simple/
Metro
https://journalmetro.com/actualites/national/2635396/drogues-quebec-ouvre-la-porte-a-dejudiciariser-la-possession-simple/