Quebec urged to decriminalize
simple possession
(Quebec) Minister Lionel Carmant was urged to decriminalize simple possession of drugs Tuesday as part of consultations on his Bill 36 to recover money related to the opioid crisis.
The request was made by the Association des intervenants en dépendance du Québec (AIDQ) to the National Assembly. According to the organization, this is an "essential measure to reduce stigma and facilitate access to health care and social services" for consumers.
"For us, decriminalizing means removing the weight of stigma," said Sandhia Vadlamudy, Executive Director of the AIDQ.
Lionel Carmant asked the organization about this proposal, but didn't seem keen on the idea. When the bill was tabled three weeks ago, the minister said that his government was not there yet.
"So far, we've preferred to look at what's happening out west, in Vancouver," the minister said Tuesday.
British Columbia decriminalized simple drug possession in early 2023 due to the province's hard-hitting overdose crisis. This is a three-year pilot project approved by Health Canada.
However, in early October, British Columbia announced that it would ban drug use in public.
The AIDQ says we need to think about how to implement decriminalization in the Quebec context. Sandhia Vadlamudy explains that the training of police officers, but also of other actors, whether in the health or community sector, is essential.
She also adds that we need to think about the amount of drugs that qualify as simple possession.
Montreal's public health department recommended decriminalization last year.
"The current model no longer works"Québec solidaire parliamentary leader Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois says Quebec is due for a reflection
on the subject of decriminalization for simple possession.
"That's what public health and police chiefs are telling us to do. [...] I think we're there in Quebec, because the current model doesn't work anymore," he said at a press conference at the National Assembly.
When asked about the matter, interim Liberal Leader Marc Tanguay simply replied: "Today, we're not here."
The Parti Québécois has indicated that it does not have a position on this specific issue.
Joining British ColumbiaThe objective of Bill 36 is for Quebec to join the class action lawsuit filed by British Columbia against more than 40 pharmaceutical companies that are accused of trivializing the harmful effects of opioids.
In 2018, British Columbia filed a class action lawsuit against 40 pharmaceutical companies on behalf of the federal, provincial and territorial governments. Among the companies targeted are Jean Coutu, Johnson & Johnson and Loblaw.
The Western Province says manufacturers may have misrepresented the risk of opioid addiction. In particular, they failed to mention side effects and withdrawal symptoms.
Distributors have also been criticized for allowing the market to be flooded with opioids, contributing to the current crisis across the country.
It is still too early to assess how much money Quebec could receive with this recourse.
The request was made by the Association des intervenants en dépendance du Québec (AIDQ) to the National Assembly. According to the organization, this is an "essential measure to reduce stigma and facilitate access to health care and social services" for consumers.
"For us, decriminalizing means removing the weight of stigma," said Sandhia Vadlamudy, Executive Director of the AIDQ.
Lionel Carmant asked the organization about this proposal, but didn't seem keen on the idea. When the bill was tabled three weeks ago, the minister said that his government was not there yet.
"So far, we've preferred to look at what's happening out west, in Vancouver," the minister said Tuesday.
British Columbia decriminalized simple drug possession in early 2023 due to the province's hard-hitting overdose crisis. This is a three-year pilot project approved by Health Canada.
However, in early October, British Columbia announced that it would ban drug use in public.
The AIDQ says we need to think about how to implement decriminalization in the Quebec context. Sandhia Vadlamudy explains that the training of police officers, but also of other actors, whether in the health or community sector, is essential.
She also adds that we need to think about the amount of drugs that qualify as simple possession.
Montreal's public health department recommended decriminalization last year.
"The current model no longer works"Québec solidaire parliamentary leader Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois says Quebec is due for a reflection
on the subject of decriminalization for simple possession.
"That's what public health and police chiefs are telling us to do. [...] I think we're there in Quebec, because the current model doesn't work anymore," he said at a press conference at the National Assembly.
When asked about the matter, interim Liberal Leader Marc Tanguay simply replied: "Today, we're not here."
The Parti Québécois has indicated that it does not have a position on this specific issue.
Joining British ColumbiaThe objective of Bill 36 is for Quebec to join the class action lawsuit filed by British Columbia against more than 40 pharmaceutical companies that are accused of trivializing the harmful effects of opioids.
In 2018, British Columbia filed a class action lawsuit against 40 pharmaceutical companies on behalf of the federal, provincial and territorial governments. Among the companies targeted are Jean Coutu, Johnson & Johnson and Loblaw.
The Western Province says manufacturers may have misrepresented the risk of opioid addiction. In particular, they failed to mention side effects and withdrawal symptoms.
Distributors have also been criticized for allowing the market to be flooded with opioids, contributing to the current crisis across the country.
It is still too early to assess how much money Quebec could receive with this recourse.