MR. KEVIN FALCON

BILL M 215 – 2024

ENDING DECRIMINALIZATION ACT

HIS MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

Explanatory Note Icon

This Bill requires the minister responsible for mental health and addictions to request that the federal minister responsible for the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, S.C. 1996, c. 19 (Canada) end the class exemption granted under section 56 (1) of that Act for adults in the province of British Columbia to possess small amounts of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA.

Definitions

1 In this Act,

"federal minister" means the Minister responsible for the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada);

"minister" means the minister responsible for mental health and addictions.

Termination of exemption

2 On or before May 10, 2024, the minister must request in writing that the federal minister end the class exemption for adults in the province of British Columbia to possess small amounts of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA, that was granted by the federal minister under section 56 (1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) on May 31, 2022, and amended as of September 7, 2023.

Commencement

3 This Act comes into force on the date of Royal Assent.


Explanatory Note

This Bill requires the minister responsible for mental health and addictions to request that the federal minister responsible for the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, S.C. 1996, c. 19 (Canada) end the class exemption granted under section 56 (1) of that Act for adults in the province of British Columbia to possess small amounts of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA.