Because the war on drugs has failed, simple possession of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs should be decriminalized, says a Liberal senator, who is also a former Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner..“This bill is extremely important to me,” said Sen. Gwen Boniface (Ont.), said in the Senate Tuesday night..“As a former front line police officer I’ve seen firsthand the often tragic consequences of substance use.”.Boniface’s Bill S-229 would see cabinet within two years draft plans to decriminalize narcotics..Penalties for simple possession of small amounts could be a ticketing offence, she said..“Criminalization and the oft-quoted ‘war on drugs’ approach has proven to be ineffective and ineffectual,” said Boniface..“Transitioning to a health-based approach is beneficial not only to people who use substances, but also for the police, the justice system and health and social services.”.Senators adjourned debate on the bill without a Second Reading vote, with critics questioning the point of the proposal..“I just can’t get my mind around how making drugs more available will prevent overdoses,” said Sen. Donald Plett (Man.), Leader of the Opposition in the Senate..“It has nothing to do with the legality of it..“Addiction is addiction, whether it is illegal or decriminalized or legal,. If you’re an addict, you’re an addict.”.The Public Health Agency said there were 19,355 opioid deaths in the period from January 2016 to September 2020. Hospitalizations numbered 33,758..“Criminalization of possession for personal use stigmatizes and marginalizes drug use, those who use drugs and the communities in which they live,” said Boniface..“It leaves people, including many young people, with criminal records..“If criminalization was the way to address substance use, I submit we should at least have a decrease in use and overdoses. But this simply isn’t our reality. We must consider an alternative route.”.Cabinet has repeatedly said it has no intention of decriminalizing narcotics..“I don’t believe there is any silver bullet to ending problematic substance use,” Health Minister Pattti Hajdu told reporters last August 22..“As much as I hear the calls across the country from many people, it’s something worth deliberating about. But certainly, there is no silver bullet approach to dealing with problematic substance use in this country or any other country.”.Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
