Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (S.C. 1996, c. 19)

Marginal note:Declaration of principles

10.1 The following principles apply in this Part:

• (a) problematic substance use should be addressed primarily as a health and social issue;

• (b) interventions should be founded on evidence-based best practices and should aim to protect the health, dignity and human rights of individuals who use drugs and to reduce harm to those individuals, their families and their communities;

• (c) criminal sanctions imposed in respect of the possession of drugs for personal use can increase the stigma associated with drug use and are not consistent with established public health evidence;

• (d) interventions should address the root causes of problematic substance use, including by encouraging measures such as education, treatment, aftercare, rehabilitation and social reintegration; and

• (e) judicial resources are more appropriately used in relation to offences that pose a risk to public safety.