So, like a lot of you in BC I am trying to figure out who to vote for, or, frankly, whether to vote. at all I am depressed at what seems to be a very neoliberal set of options when it comes to housing, income inequality, etc. So, let's see how they compare on drug policy I guess.

The NDP's plan to save lives by cracking down on drug dealers and opioid prescribing physicians will kill people. That's an awful, awful plan. Meanwhile, the Greens claim to support a Portugal-style decrim... https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/10/13/Sonia-Furstenau-Snap-Election-Site-C-Minority-Government/

In Portugal, decriminalization also was sold as a way to free-up resources to go after dealers. So, I can't say for sure who's better here. But at least, as far as I can tell, the Greens haven't gone out of there way to support the war on drugs like the NDP have.

Here's the NDP's language on decriminilization. It's revolting. They imply they would take a long time, wait for other levels of government who already refuse to make life-saving changes, and will put the police at the front of the conversation. Just awful.

Then there's Bill 22. Horgan has claimed that he called this election because the Greens didn't support this terrible piece of legislation. Forced hospitalization will kill kids, mostly poor kids, disproportionately Indigenous kids. It will keep them from seeking medical care.

Kids already jump out of ambulances in BC because they don't want to face the oppressiveness of our health care system. Stop and think about that for a second. That's why we need legislation to make them go to the hospital. Because it feels like going to prison. That is so sad!

Both parties should be talking much more about safe supply. The NDP say they've already rolled out a "safe supply," which they unequivocally have not. A safe supply would be low-barrier, on demand access to the drugs people are using now on the street, including fentanyl.

But, alas, I can't find any evidence the Greens support a real safe supply either. Just this press release saying they support the new guidelines.

https://www.bcgreens.ca/b_c_green_caucus_welcomes_new_public_health_order_improved_access_to_safe_supply

Anyway, Greens seem better on this. If that's enough for you to vote for them, go with God. I'm too depressed to move. So we'll see.

This will be controversial, but if you want to do something about the overdose crisis, it seems one of the least important things you can do is vote. If you only are going to spend one afternoon doing politics, maybe bring some supplies down to an org that needs them instead.

Oh and, I am not a beat reporter on drug policy really. I just do documentaries about it and have learned some stuff along the way. So if you have more information or other opinions, feel free to suggest them here. So many of my followers know more about this stuff than I do.