BRITISH COLUMBIA SUPREME COURT RULES THAT DRUG INJECTION CLINIC CAN STAY OPEN DESPITE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OBJECTIONS
A landmark decision by the Supreme Court of Canada this morning overrode federal objections to a controversial supervised drug injection clinic in Vancouver, and ordered that it remain open.
The Supreme Court of Canada stated that the Harper government could not refuse a special exemption for Insite injection site, allowing the clinic to operate without fear of prosecution for possessing and trafficking in hard drugs. The ruling was a triumph for Insite injection site where drug users self-inject drugs under the supervision of health professionals.
Insite was launched in 2003 under a special exemption from prosecution. The Federal government maintained the exemption until 2008, expressing concern over providing people with addiction issues with legally sanctioned hard drugs. This move created an alliance between drug users, the medical community and across the province’s political spectrum, including the support of B.C.’s Attorney General. The coalition was successful in persuading the B.C. Supreme Court and the B.C. Court of Appeal to find Insite immune from criminal prosecution.
The B.C. Health Ministry, which funds Insite injection site, has cited numerous studies showing its effectiveness in connecting vulnerable, at-risk injection users with health services. Vancouver Police also reported no risk to the public from the site’s operation in the heart of the Downtown Eastside.
After being a major source of tension between the province and federal government, it appears to have paved the way for other supervised injection clinics to open in cities where drug addiction is a social and medical issue.
Please view the following newsarticles for more information:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/09/30/b-c-injection-site-exempt-from-drug-laws-supreme-court/