Thread by @kwardvancouver, no. the minister inquired about seeking. seems like they're coming in from [...]

no. the minister inquired about seeking. seems like they're coming in from the outside lane as we gear up to do this for real in Vancouver, as if they're really in this race. i dont like this, for reasons. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-bc-asks-ottawa-to-discuss-decriminalizing-drug-possession-across/

B.C. seeks exemption to decriminalize drug possession

Province tells federal Health Minister removal of criminal penalties would help it to deal with worsening overdose crisis

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-bc-asks-ottawa-to-discuss-decriminalizing-drug-possession-across/

BC could decriminalize people who use drugs (rather than drugs themselves), if the government wanted to, on its own.

DR. HENRY EXPLAINED IN THIS PHO REPORT IN APRIL 2019.

(this is a summary/ commentary, and a radio clip, with links etc) http://free-futures-society.org/2020/05/29/real-emergencies-2/

Real Emergencies

on Dr Henry’s Special Report, “Stopping the Harm: The Decriminalization of People Who Use Drugs in BC,” released April 2019

http://free-futures-society.org/2020/05/29/real-emergencies-2/

that whole report is called "Decriminalization of people who use drugs in BC" and it says DO IT, HERE'S HOW https://twitter.com/sobittersosweet/status/1360029002144993281?s=20

https://twitter.com/sobittersosweet/status/1360029002144993281?s=20

it did not say do this https://twitter.com/richardzussman/status/1285359822720782338?s=20

https://twitter.com/richardzussman/status/1285359822720782338?s=20

that was less than two weeks after the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police presented their recommendations in a document that has really not had much scrutiny so let's do that. who is the head of that association you ask?

here's a link to the report, and this is the best part, where they cite Tristan Hopper and Sue-Ann Levy (p 7), because those are authorities and this is a Real Report that is clearly Real and Reality-based.

back shortly. enjoy

https://www.cacp.ca/index.html?asst_id=2189

Here's the police explaining the two provincial options to decriminalize people - the public safety minister can use the Police Act, or this can be incorporated into a reformed Police Act [dyk there is a committee on reforming the Police Act RIGHT NOW]

"we will need the same amount of money because all of this is still our role in a decriminalized environment"

so that would actually NOT be decriminalization, then. because you are the police. you will not be "first point of contact" BECAUSE YOU ARE THE POLICE.

does it strike you as odd that there's this subsection on 'Budget' in this bit on decriminalization? what are reacting to? it feels reactive. july 9 2020, a million years ago, what was happening https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/legislature-to-study-systemic-racism-in-b-c-police-departments

Legislature to study systemic racism in B.C. police departments

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/legislature-to-study-systemic-racism-in-b-c-police-departments

73 groups sign letter pushing Vancouver city council to end street checks | News

The BC Civil Liberties Association has organized a petition asking city council to make ending police street checks a political priority.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/city-council-vancouver-end-street-checks

this is july 10 https://nationalpost.com/news/a-city-by-city-breakdown-of-how-canadians-want-to-defund-the-police

A city-by-city breakdown of how Canadians want to defund the police

https://nationalpost.com/news/a-city-by-city-breakdown-of-how-canadians-want-to-defund-the-police

and a few weeks before, june 19th. https://bc.ctvnews.ca/juneteenth-march-draws-6-000-people-in-vancouver-1.4991974

Juneteenth march draws 6,000 people in Vancouver

A large crowd gathered at Sunset Beach Friday evening after an anti-racism march through downtown Vancouver.

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/juneteenth-march-draws-6-000-people-in-vancouver-1.4991974

so it's important to recognize that this document and proposal was intended to distract and divide the cdn BLM movement and the struggle for racial justice from work on decriminalization.

also, "diversion" sounds really police statey with the integration and i don't like this

to decriminalize is not to pathologize

what "diversion measures"?