B.C. Drug Decriminalization Ends as Northern Deaths Surge
VICTORIA — British Columbia is pulling the plug on its controversial three-year drug decriminalization pilot project, acknowledging the “groundbreaking” experiment failed to deliver the safety and health outcomes officials had promised.
Health Minister Josie Osborne announced Wednesday that the province will not seek to renew the federal exemption that allowed for the legal possession of small amounts of illicit drugs. The pilot, which began in January 2023, is set to officially expire on January 31, 2026.
“Despite the hard work and good intentions behind the pilot, it has not delivered the results we hoped for,” Osborne said in a prepared statement. “The toxic-drug crisis continues to take lives and cause tremendous pain across British Columbia.”
A Project Under Pressure
The decision marks a significant policy reversal for the NDP government, which had initially championed decriminalization as a way to reduce the stigma that prevents users from seeking medical help.
However, the program faced immediate backlash from municipal leaders and the public over increased open drug use in community spaces. By 2024, the province was forced to walk back the policy, restricting possession to private homes and shelters while banning use in parks and near businesses.
Skeena MLA and addictions critic Claire Rattée was quick to respond to the news.
“The NDP government has finally admitted what British Columbians have known for years: drug decriminalization didn’t work,” Rattée said in a statement.
The Crisis in the North
The end of the pilot comes as the Skeena region grapples with some of the highest fatality rates in the province. According to recent BC Coroners Service data, Terrace ranked first in the North for toxic drug death rates in 2025, reaching a staggering 104.1 per 100,000 population.
While the provincial average saw a slight decline in 2024, Northern Health continues to experience the highest rates of death per capita. Advocates in the North have long argued that without the robust treatment infrastructure found in the Lower Mainland, decriminalization alone was a “half-measure” that left rural communities vulnerable.
Police Focus Shifts Back to Enforcement
The BC RCMP has welcomed the return to full enforcement. Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald stated that while substance use remains a health issue, the end of the exemption allows officers to refocus on the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
“With the end of the exemption, police officers can fully enforce and focus on the most serious offences,” McDonald said.“Police will continue to apply a measured approach… while upholding the safety and security of the communities we serve.”
What Happens Next?
Minister Osborne stressed that the province is not abandoning its “health-first” approach. She highlighted that B.C. has opened over 760 new treatment beds since 2017 and reduced wait times for withdrawal management from 26 days down to approximately eight.
For residents in the Skeena Valley, the focus now shifts to whether the provincial government will redirect the resources once used for the pilot toward local recovery services. Minister Osborne announced the expansion of Access Central, a 24/7 phone line intended to be a single point of entry for those seeking addiction care.
