Canada's drug regulator announced Tuesday it will temporarily decriminalize illegal drugs for personal use in British Columbia for three years starting Jan. 31, 2023.
Why it matters: The exemption is the first of its kind in Canadian history and is in response to an unprecedented and growing overdose crisis in the province.
The exemption will allow adults in the province to carry up to 2.5 grams of opioids — including heroin, morphine and fentanyl — crack and powder cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA, also known as Ecstasy.
What they're saying: "We are granting this exemption because our government is committed to using all available tools that reduce stigma, substance use harms, and continuing to work with jurisdictions, to save lives and end this crisis," Carolyn Bennett, Canada's minister of mental health and addictions, said in a statement Tuesday.
The big picture: British Columbia first declared drug-related overdoses and deaths a public health emergency in 2016, and the crisis has only exacerbated throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Canada's national health agency said Tuesday.
Go deeper: U.S. surpassed 100,000 overdose deaths in 2021
Editor's note: This post was updated to include a quote from Canada's minister of mental health and addictions.
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