Trudeau on drug recriminalization in B.C: 'We're going to continue to follow the science'

Your government has now approved the recriminalization of public drug use. NBC what are the advantages of arresting public drug users? A number of years ago, when British Columbia came to us asking for a pilot project to decriminalize certain drugs, to put the emphasis and the onus on a public health response to the toxic drug supply and opioid crisis, we worked with them and we move forward on this pilot project and when they came back. Recently and said we need to make an adjustment to it. We granted them that adjustment in terms of public spaces. We’re going to continue to take an approach grounded in public health, not criminal justice for people living with addictions. We’re going to continue to follow the science. We’re going to continue to work around harm reduction and support for people who are struggling with addictions. We’re looking at investing more community supports and more wrap around services. Every step of the way we will be guided. By thoughtful, compassionate public health principles rather than ideology or criminalization of people who need support, need help, don’t need jail sentences.