Dear Prime Minister,
@JustinTrudeau

I understand Minister Hajdu is reviewing a request to decriminalize drugs in small amounts as a test case in Vancouver.

But she needs to convince you and your cabinet and caucus.

I hope you will give it serious consideration.

.../

I'm aware the public is not quite on board yet.

We as advocates need to double down on our efforts to inform and convince them.

We are committed to that.

You can count on us to do everything we can to bring them on board.

And I think it's very possible.

The Canadian people have shown time and again with information and education, and personal testimonials, they can be convinced on an issue they're hesitant about.

I think the time is now.

The urgent imperative of saving lives from needless preventable overdoses has never been more urgent.

As you are aware.

I experienced first hand last summer the impact that good policy and good laws from the federal government can have on the ground saving lives.

I saw for myself the Good Samaritan Act in action. I watched it save a life.

From my own struggles with drug use - I overdosed twice and nearly died 5 years ago (I am in good health today) - I know first hand how stigma kills.

How fear and hiding your struggles puts you in grave risk.

We must stop criminalizing illnesses.

I also know that as an HIV positive person.

Criminalizing illness opens a path for the illness to kill us.

The police, paramedics, health workers and public health leaders know that.

That's why they also support decriminalization.

Because criminalizing doesn't prevent illness.

It unleashes it.

We know that from HIV/AIDS: after criminalization, infections soared upward in Canada, and more people died.

Fear of arrest and persecution meant people were afraid to get tested. It helped the HIV virus travel.

Likewise, drug users live in dire fear of exposure.

That means they must take dangerous risks, exposing them to poisoned supply.

And dying alone.

Because they couldn't bear to tell anyone, and have someone with them.

That's the awful tragedy that's been unfolding at an exponential rate across Canada for years now.

But exploded to even worse levels since factors with pandemic pushed it over the edge.

The one thing family and friends of the dead tell us, is that they didn't know their friend or loved one used drugs, or was suffering.

That's the impact of stigma and criminalization.

Prime Minister, we as friends, family, loved ones and members of communities impacted by Canada's overdose emergency. The vast majority of us.

Stand shoulder to shoulder united with police, paramedics, ER physicians, nurses, experts and Public Health.

I'm also speaking up the life lost, the young woman who died in the same ER cared for by the same health workers who cared for me and saved my life, moments before I arrived with paramedics, 5 years ago last month.

We ask you Prime Minister, and the cabinet, to act to save some lives while we still can.

Remove the shame and fear.

And give them a chance to live.

Thank you,
Mike Gibbs

Copying my MP: @markhollandlib
(Mark and Mike: I'll DM you a letter with my address)

Cc: @PattyHajdu