Ontario police leaders support a health-centred approach to address addiction issues, in relation to of simple possession of illicit drugs. This must be done in a way that does not undermine public safety. Ensuring government decision-makers and the public understand that this support is based on public health considerations is important to helping people dealing with problematic substance use and ensuring governments invest in robust, evidence-based treatment programs, and other support services.
The OACP will continue to educate government decision-makers and the public on the ongoing law enforcement concerns around organized crime’s involvement in the illegal cannabis market (through an updated version of our Out of the Shadows document [publication in June 2022] and our Intelligence and Organized Crime Committee’s [police-only] report on the Canadian cannabis market).