Operating Grant: Evaluation of the British Columbia Exemption to Allow for Personal Possession of Small Amounts of Illegal Drugs
Progress Report Lay Summary: April 2026 – October 2026

Nominated Principal Investigator: Jürgen Rehm, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH); Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (CRISM) – Ontario Node

Background

Background information can be found here: Semi-annual Meeting – April 2026

Progress Report Lay Summary: April 2026 – October 2026

During this reporting period, the research team completed several key evaluation activities following the policy’s conclusion in January 2026. The research team published a systematic review identifying recurring implementation challenges across the decriminalization evidence base. The research team also conducted the third population-based survey of BC adults and completed qualitative interviews with 100 people who use drugs (PWUD). Public opinion data indicate stable or declining support for decriminalization, with over half of respondents supporting the policy’s conclusion. Preliminary PWUD findings suggest limited changes in drug use, overdose risk, service access, or stigma. The research team also completed a qualitative synthesis triangulating PWUD and police perspectives, identifying areas of convergence and divergence in how both groups experienced decriminalization and the amendment.

The research team also analyzed updated health and criminal justice indicators. Health-related outcomes remained largely unchanged, while criminal justice indicators continued previously observed trends, including reversals in reductions in possession incidents and drug seizures following the May 2024 amendment. Preliminary work on the economic evaluation also commenced.

Knowledge dissemination remained a major focus, including national and international conference presentations, a national webinar, partner forums, peer-reviewed publications, and the development of knowledge translation materials, infographics, and a policy brief.

For more information

Additional information about this project can be found on the OCRINT webpage as well as the CIHR website.

More information on CIHR's Research in Substance Use initiative can be found online or email rsu-rst@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

For more information, visit CIHR's Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction or email inmha-insmt@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

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