By Canadian Press

Quebec government quietly loosened its approach to drug possession over a year ago

Jul 16, 2024 | 11:58 AM

MONTREAL — The Quebec government has quietly relaxed its approach to people caught with small quantities of drugs.

In April 2023, the province recommended that simple possession cases should only be prosecuted when there is a public safety risk, including in the context of organized crime, violence or when minors are present.

The Coalition Avenir Québec government made no public announcement of the change, which was reported for the first time this week by Le Devoir.

Municipal police say they were not informed of the new direction for prosecutors, but say police methods for dealing with simple possession have not changed.

Quebec’s director of prosecutions issued a new directive after the government recommendation last year.

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In January 2023, British Columbia became the first province in Canada to decriminalize possession of small amounts of certain illicit drugs.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 16, 2024.

The Canadian Press