January 6,2026
RED FM News Desk
B.C.’s drug decriminalization pilot program is set to end on Jan. 31, and it’s still uncertain what will replace it.
The three-year project removed criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of illegal drugs in an effort to reduce stigma and encourage people to seek help. However, it soon became controversial because it also allowed drug use in public spaces.
Premier David Eby said Tuesday that the province is continuing to work closely with the federal government. In 2024, Ottawa approved B.C.’s request to make public drug possession illegal again.
“But let me be clear: we are not returning to the previous approach that allowed decriminalized public drug use in British Columbia,” Eby said. “It didn’t work, and we ended it. We’re in ongoing discussions with the federal government and will share more soon.”
Eby said the shift was necessary after the attorney general warned that a court fight over B.C.’s attempt to restrict public drug use could drag on for at least a year. Possession remains decriminalized in private homes and certain health-care settings.
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