Canadian Drug Policy Coalition

Join us in shaping a future free from the harms of drug prohibition.

We need change. Our current approach to drugs is killing people and hurting communities. To end the drug poisoning crisis and support communities where we can all thrive, we must change our drug policies.

We are committed to a future that is safe, healthy and just. Imagine drug policies and legislation rooted in evidence, human rights, social inclusion and public health. That's our vision – a society where everyone – whether they use drugs or not – can access safety and well-being.

Join us. To build a society that truly reflects our shared values, we need to change the public conversation and build policy grounded in compassion and evidence.

What We're Facing

Unregulated drugs have killed more than 40,000 people across Canada since 2016. Thousands of families and communities have been left to grieve their loved ones’ preventable deaths, while thousands more remain at risk. Making drugs illegal has only made them more dangerous, while doing nothing to restrict their availability. Under drug prohibition, illicit drugs have become stronger and more adulterated, driving a staggering increase in drug poisoning deaths.

Punitive drug laws do more harm than help, especially for people experiencing poverty and racialized people. We are in a drug policy crisis today because of laws first created more than a century ago, designed to control Indigenous, racialized and working-class communities. Our laws and policies continue to drive and perpetuate disproportionate harm. A criminal record can block opportunities for jobs, housing and education. Fear of repercussions can stop people from calling 9-1-1 during an overdose, or seeking supports, healthcare and treatment. Our governments spend billions of dollars every year on criminalizing people who use drugs. We could use that money to invest in safe, just and healthy communities.

We must transform these policies for the collective well-being of our communities.

Pathways Forward

The Canadian Drug Policy Coalition works to:

Produce and advance constructive policy recommendations for government and policymakers
Build partnerships with people and organizations working in our three areas of focus to support safe, inclusive communities
Communicate clear information and analysis to counter stigma and change the narrative around people who use drugs
Foster productive dialogue, education and action within civil society

Explore our proposed pathways forward: Decriminalization, Legal Regulation, and Human Rights.

Historical Foundations

Prohibition on these lands dates back to laws first created more than a century ago, designed to control and exclude Indigenous and racialized people. The Indian Act, the Opium wars, and the surge in anti-Chinese and anti-Japanese racism in the early 20th century. Despite surface-level reforms, current drug policies continue to drive disproportionate harm on Indigenous, Black, racialized, disabled and working-class communities.

Issue Areas

Legal Regulation

We advocate for legal regulations to support safety and community well-being.

Unregulated drugs are killing people. Because they have no regulations around safety and no oversight, there is no way for people to know the contents and dosage. Our society understands responsible regulation of substances like alcohol, tobacco and cannabis. Legal regulation could eliminate criminal penalties, prioritize public health, safeguard vulnerable populations and uphold human rights. This approach understands drug use as morally neutral and recognizes humans across cultures and histories have consumed drugs for different reasons. We can make all people safer by reducing harm and embracing a pragmatic, compassionate approach.

Decriminalization

We prioritize health and human rights, acknowledging the imperative to save lives and protect communities.

Criminalization has proven ineffective: it has not reduced drug use or availability; it has driven a surge in drug poisoning deaths, and it puts millions of dollars into the pockets of organized crime. Rooted in racism, this policy has persisted for over a century, resulting in more than 40,000 deaths in Canada since 2016. Now, a critical mass is calling for a bold shift away from prohibition, with politicians, doctors, and public health officials advocating drug decriminalization. With this approach, we prioritize health and human rights, acknowledging the imperative to save lives and protect communities. It is time for a transformative shift.

Human Rights

All people have the right to dignity and health, regardless of their relationship to drug use.

Our drug laws and policies should uphold the basic human rights of all people, including people who use drugs. This includes the right to life, health, bodily autonomy, adequate standards of living, and liberty and security of the person. A rights-based approach also means that duty bearers such as governments have an obligation to uphold these rights. We advocate for policies that support, not punish people and communities, and for systems that address drivers of harms associated with drug use, like poverty and discrimination.