On December 29, 2021, we were thrilled to receive an affirming decision from the BC Provincial Court in the case of R v Ellis. Alongside Sarah Runyon of Marion & Runyon, we successfully argued a departure from BC’s steep sentencing range of 18-36 months for street-based drug trafficking offences involving fentanyl. Rather than serve up to 3 years in jail, our client Tanya Ellis was instead able to access the health supports she wanted and to focus on raising her children. Despite our government’s routine claims to support evidence-based, health-focused drug policy, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada quickly appealed the decision. That means we will be at the BC Court of Appeal defending the provincial court decision on May 26, 2022.

BC and Vancouver have each applied to decriminalize simple drug possession. Neither model is perfect, but how do they compare?

Leading human rights and public health organizations release national drug decriminalization platform for Canada.

BC Provincial Court’s recent decision of R v Ellis marks a departure from harsh sentencing ranges for street-based fentanyl dealers. We know that a different approach is needed—the Court listened.

Pivot Legal Society letter to City of Dawson Creek: Proposed amendment to zoning bylaw prevents access to life saving harm reduction services.

Members of the Province’s Core Planning Table express grave concerns that BC’s bid to decriminalize drugs leaves behind the most marginalized drug users

Read an update on Pivot’s decriminalization advocacy and our conditions for supporting and providing input on a made-in-BC model.

We are going to the Supreme Court of BC to fight for Drug War Survivors right to have a space of their own in Surrey.

Full drug decriminalization is consistent with Canada's human rights obligations

Black and Indigenous women in the Downtown Eastside in conversation about the Impacts of the drug poisoning crisis.