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Position Papers

The Duty to Provide Overdose Prevention Services

OPS are necessary—both to save lives and in accordance with public health laws. When local governments or police obstruct OPS, they contravene a Ministerial Order; violate provincial jurisdiction over health; discriminate against people who use drugs; and put people’s lives at even greater risk amid overlapping health crises. When health authorities fail to establish or otherwise protect OPS, they breach their legal obligations, potentially amounting to negligence and/or discrimination.
By Caitlin Shane Caitlin Shane | Sep 02, 2022 | Drug Policy Reform, Position Papers

International treaties and conventions are not barriers to decriminalization in Canada

Full drug decriminalization is consistent with Canada's human rights obligations
By Sozan Savehilaghi Sozan Savehilaghi | Sep 10, 2021 | Drug Policy Reform, Position Papers

Social Condition

We must develop a flexible definition of Social Condition that includes an element of disadvantage and explicitly identifies housing status.
By Peter Kim Peter Kim | Dec 17, 2019 | Anti-Stigma, Homes For All, Position Papers

Practical Drug Decriminalization in British Columbia

In light of the federal government’s failure to meaningfully reform drug policy, provinces like B.C. can and must take legal steps to effectively (“de facto”) decriminalize simple possession by re-directing police resources away from its criminal enforcement.
By Sozan Savehilaghi Sozan Savehilaghi | Aug 30, 2019 | Drug Policy Reform, Position Papers

Police Documents and Liability

Police must be made to cooperate with accountability organizations and investigations
By Peter Kim Peter Kim | Dec 04, 2017 | Criminalization and Policing, Position Papers

Fentanyl Sentencing

Substance use is a health issue and should be treated as such
By Peter Kim Peter Kim | Dec 04, 2017 | Drug Policy Reform, Position Papers

Property Confiscation by Police

Harm reduction supplies save lives. Police should not be taking them away from people who use drugs.
By Peter Kim Peter Kim | Dec 04, 2017 | Criminalization and Policing, Drug Policy Reform, Position Papers

Police Attendance at Overdoses

People who call 911 should be free to do so without fear of arrest.
By Peter Kim Peter Kim | Dec 04, 2017 | Criminalization and Policing, Drug Policy Reform, Position Papers

Discriminatory Zoning

Land use decisions should protect the rights and safety of society's least off and most marginalized.
By Peter Kim Peter Kim | Dec 04, 2017 | Homes For All, Position Papers

Addiction and Harm Reduction Services

Government policy should be guided by research and facts, not fear and stigma
By Peter Kim Peter Kim | Dec 04, 2017 | Drug Policy Reform, Position Papers
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Pivot Legal Society is located on stolen lands of the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). We are grateful to Indigenous Peoples for their continuous relationship with their lands and are committed to learning to work in solidarity as accomplices in shifting the colonial default. 

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