A Grand Forks bylaw is now in place setting out prohibited areas for public drug use.
City council passed the law Monday despite last minute pleas to hold off from Interior Health, the B.C. Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions and the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition.
The province plans to regulate public drug use but the legislation is not expected until the fall.
Mayor Everett Baker says the bylaw is “fair and equitable” in dealing with the drug crisis.
“I think the bylaw is moderate. I think the staff have put a tremendous amount of work into this bylaw. At this point, I think that it will serve the need that we have in this point in time,” Baker stated.
The mayor says the bylaw can be revised this fall if the province comes up with public drug use legislation.
In January, the B.C. government decriminalized small amounts of drugs as part of a three year pilot project.
Coun. Christine Thompson, city liaison to the Community Action Team, supports the law even though CAT has concerns.
“I respect that. But as I told them they are not my only constituents. There are others within the municipality that I have to take into consideration as well,” Thompson said.
The law outlines public areas like parks, school property, playgrounds and near children, where drug use won’t be allowed.
Even though violators can be fined $500 to $10,000, the city intends to ban repeat offenders from areas where they’re using.
