At the recent 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition co-sponsored and spoke on a panel titled: Decriminalization as a Public Health and Human Rights Approach to Drug Policy. Senior Policy Analyst Nick Boyce’s presentation focused on drug decriminalization in British Columbia, Canada. Watch his 6 minute talk below, and review the presentation slides to learn more.
Panel Speakers Included:
- Introductory comments by Lena Kucheruk, Eastern and Central European and Central Asian Commission on Drug Policy.
- Zaved Mahmood, drawing from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights report A/HRC/54/53 and highlighting recommendations for human rights-based drug policies, including decriminalization.
- Ahmed Said, International Network of People who Use Drugs, providing the perspective of people with lived experience and highlighting the harms of criminalization and core principles of decriminalization.
- Theshia Naidoo, Drug Policy Alliance (USA), discussing lessons learned from decriminalization in Oregon, USA.
- Video statement by Christina McKelvie; Scotland Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, discussing recent developments in Portugal’s decriminalization policy.
- Nick Boyce, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, discussing decriminalization efforts in British Columbia, Canada.
If videos of other speakers become available, we will post them here.
VIDEO: [6 minutes] Nick Boyce, Senior Policy Analyst at the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition on Decriminalization Efforts in British Columbia, Canada
Presentation Slides:
