Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK

Penticton’s top cop thinks decriminalizing possession of small amounts illicit drugs is a bad idea and city council agrees.

The province has asked the federal government to remove criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of illicit drugs in an effort to get a handle on the opioid health crisis. The belief is by removing the penalties it will reduce drug-use stigma and more people will get life-saving treatment. The request to Health Canada is for the decriminalization of up to 4.5 grams of drugs including heroin, fentanyl, powder and crack cocaine and methamphetamine.

During a quarterly update to Penticton council yesterday, Nov. 16, RCMP Supt. Brian Hunter said the proposed legislation will take enforcement options away from police and does nothing to promote a safe supply.

READ MORE: B.C. applies to remove criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of drugs

Supt. Hunter described a scenario where an officer on foot patrol notices somebody drinking in the public space of Nanaimo Square.

“(If) they’ve got a case of Budweiser there, we can seize that alcohol, we can deal with the matter, we can issue a fine if we want to, we can destroy that alcohol,” he said.

But that won’t be the case with illicit drugs if the proposed legislation is passed.

“With this proposed legislation, same scenario but somebody doing say a line of cocaine – the police can do nothing about it… and I think everybody can agree there’s a bit of an issue with that," Supt. Hunter said.

READ MORE: Trudeau urged to make decriminalization of illicit drugs a priority

He also feels the limit of 4.5 grams is too high, calling that up to 45 hits of fentanyl.

“There’s a good possibility traffickers could exploit this legislation and use it to their advantage," he said.

Supt. Hunter envisions a day when there is no supply or demand for illicit drugs.

“If nobody’s doing drugs, nobody can sell drugs because nobody wants to buy them so let’s get folks into treatment and rehabilitation," he said.

Councillor Katie Robinson agreed that a policy allowing open drug use is concerning. Before the policy goes too deep down the rabbit hole, she suggested council write a letter to higher levels of government to relay their issues with it.

“Thank you for bringing it to our attention, I was not aware of that particular issue,” Robinson said.

READ MORE: RCMP find illicit drugs after executing search warrant at Kelowna home

Mayor John Vassilaki wondered if municipal laws can re-criminalize open drug use if the province does changed the rules.

“Would it help the RCMP where people are using drugs in public and people can see them, if we were to pass a bylaw for example, to make it illegal for them to use in public or where the public can actually see what they’re doing – would that help out the RCMP at all?” Mayor Vassilaki said.

“If this legislation goes through as requested, that would be the only way,” Supt. Hunter responded.

He said the RCMP responds to "a lot of calls" about open use in the community.  

"We tend to them when we can – certainly not in a vein to pursue criminal charges, but you know, check on the individual, make sure they're doing OK, and certainly in a public space it's likely not the most appropriate place to be consuming drugs."

— With files from The Canadian Press

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