Vancouver, January 15, 2026: Canada’s western province of British Columbia has announced it will allow its drug decriminalisation pilot programme to lapse at the end of January, marking a significant shift in its approach to tackling the opioid crisis.
Launched in 2023 as a three-year trial, the initiative was designed to reduce overdose deaths and encourage people struggling with addiction to seek treatment by removing criminal penalties for possession of small quantities of illicit drugs. British Columbia was the only province in the country to implement such a policy.
However, provincial health authorities now say the programme has not produced the results originally anticipated. Health Minister Josie Osborne stated that the government could not conclusively determine whether the policy led to increased access to treatment for individuals battling opioid addiction.
Under the pilot, adults were permitted to carry limited amounts of substances such as heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine without facing arrest or having the drugs confiscated, except in designated areas including schools and airports.
While public health advocates supported the initiative as a way to reduce stigma and keep users out of the criminal justice system, the policy faced growing public resistance. Concerns were raised over visible drug use in public spaces, including parks and healthcare facilities, prompting criticism from political opponents who labelled the programme a failed social experiment.
Acknowledging the growing backlash, Osborne said public discourse around the policy had become increasingly difficult. She added that a comprehensive report evaluating the programme’s outcomes would be released once it formally concludes.
The decision comes amid a broader shift in drug policy across Canada, with provinces such as Ontario and Alberta placing greater emphasis on addiction treatment and recovery rather than harm-reduction measures like supervised consumption sites.
Data from federal health authorities show opioid-related deaths in British Columbia rose modestly between 2023 and 2024, while preliminary figures suggest national overdose deaths declined in 2025, though British Columbia continues to report the highest numbers.
Similar policy reversals have been seen internationally. In the United States, Oregon rolled back its drug decriminalisation law in 2024 following a rise in overdoses and public complaints about open drug use. Elsewhere, proposals for decriminalisation, including in Scotland, have faced political resistance.
