B.C. Supreme Court weighs constitutional fight over Canada’s drug crisis
A constitutional challenge to Canada's drug laws is underway in B.C. Supreme Court. Jeremy Kalicum, co-founder of Vancouver's Drug User Liberation Front (DULF), testified about the club's efforts to combat the overdose crisis. The group once hoped to work with Health Canada but later turned to the dark web for supplies.
DULF operated between August 2022 and October 2023, initially funded by Vancouver Coastal Health for drug checking and overdose prevention. The club went further, using donations and member sales to buy and test substances for distribution. Founders believed media attention would push public debate on the drug crisis, even feeling 'invincible' at first.
The case hinges on whether Canada's drug laws violate constitutional rights by worsening overdose deaths. DULF's operations, though short-lived, tested an alternative approach to harm reduction. The court's decision could reshape how authorities address the ongoing crisis.
