Amid ongoing conversations around decriminalization in B.C., the province is set to provide an update about public drug use.
The government has called a news conference for just after 1 p.m. Friday, though it has not provided any details publicly ahead of that time.
The topic of public drug use has been ongoing, particularly since the three-year decriminalization pilot program began in B.C. on Jan. 31, 2023.
Under the program, drug use is still prohibited in certain spaces, such as school grounds.
Last year, the province introduced legislation to further restrict where drugs could be used in public.
The Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act was passed by the legislature in November, allowing fines and imprisonment for people who refuse to comply with police orders not to consume drugs in certain public places, including parks, beaches, and sports fields.
However, in December, the B.C. Supreme Court blocked new laws against public consumption of illegal substances. The ruling in favour of the Harm Reduction Nurses Association imposed a temporary injunction until March 31, with the judge saying “irreparable harm will be caused” if the laws came into force.
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