A British Columbia Supreme Court Justice has granted a temporary injunction against the B.C. NDP government’s legislation banning all drug use in a wide range of public spaces, pausing the law three days before it was set to come into force.

The B.C. Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act passed in early November and was set to become law on Jan. 1. However, it would not have immediately impacted people’s lives because cabinet has not yet approved regulations to implement it.

The proposed changes would ban illegal substance use from all public parks to sports fields and beaches, as well as close to any workplaces, skate parks, pools, transit stops, residences or playgrounds — including within six metres of “a place to which the public has access” and “a prescribed place.”

But on Friday, B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson ordered the law paused until March 31, ruling it would likely result in more deaths, displacement and criminalization of people who use drugs.

  • TWeaK@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    I don’t really get the purpose of this law, “drugs that are illegal are now more illegal”.

    • ultranaut@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      In politics, looking like you are doing something is often just as good as actually doing something.

    • Nomecks@lemmy.ca
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      9 months ago

      They can round up all the addicts in Vancouver and give themselves a high five at their fantastically stupid policy.