CA - How Vancouver's War on Drugs Began

[edgarshade]

The Tyree

By Ben Christopher, 21 Mar 2012, Megaphone Magazine

The previous September, members and sympathizers of the newly formed Asiatic Exclusion League had descended upon Chinatown by the thousand. Smashing plate glass windows and ripping signs from storefront overhangs, the rioters were finally repelled at Powell Street by club-wielding residents of Japantown. And so the future prime minister found himself in Vancouver, assessing the damage claims of aggrieved business owners.

What King found in Chinatown was a thriving opium industry. Even more troubling to the deputy minister, the drug was regularly being consumed by English-speaking whites. Just a month later, a long title bill now known simply as the Opium Act passed through both chambers of Parliament with minimal debate. This was Canada's first anti-drug law -- the opening salvo in a war on drugs that continues to this day.

And so in 1952 the Community Chest and Council, a precursor to the United Way, formed a committee and published a report on drug addiction. "Narcotic addiction," the report read, "is a medical problem." The committee went on to call upon the federal government to begin dispensing drugs to addicts. A heroin user with a steady supply of heroin, the report argued, could live a stable, crime-free life and, once in the program, could be ushered towards rehabilitation.

More...
http://thetyee.ca/News/2012/03/21/Vancouver-Drug-Policy/

 

[Venrak]

It was very interesting to read about how HR all began in my country. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[fakeplastictrees4]

Good article, unbiased. Didn't know about that HR history, definitely going to look more into it.

As a resident of Vancouver, Hastings gets a very bad rep al over north america. Which is probably not deserved (in terms of robbery/violence, as long as you don't make yourself noticed nothing will happen to you). The HIV/AIDS epidemic is very true though, seeing a lot of the emaciated users on hastings is really sad. I've walked up and down hastings countless times and scoring drugs on that street is so ridiculously easy, on Hastings and Main (outside Carnegie hall) you'll see people shotting up right there, guys are whistling for potential buyers, all across the street from a police station. I am quite happy with the way the police handle the situation they're dealt, they're respectful and are really there to break up any violence and really erractic/drugged up behaviour, it's rare for someone to get persecuted for drug use other than getting written up. The officers on hastings take on a dangerous job. its very common to see someone really fucked up walking along the middle of the street. The speed limit is lowered to 30/km an hour all down there just for that reason.

As for insite, it's there...but not that many users use it. It's a good step...but really its more of a symbol that people are ready for HR tactics rather than drug war campaigning. A lot of drug users dislike insite, mainly native american users, arent there for harm reduction. They're using their prescence there as more of an ongoing protest against the govt and all that... the drug use, poverty, and prostitution in vancouver is deep rooted. im glad we're finally looking at it in a new way, rather than jailing all the 'criminal scum' which only wastes everyones money and time.

 

[ro4eva]

Good article, unbiased. Didn't know about that HR history, definitely going to look more into it.

Yeah sadly unless you do some research, chances are you won't find a biased, exaggerated or fabricated form of media in relation to illicit drugs and how we got where we are today and more importantly as well as specifically - the real reason as to why.

Mr. Harper would no doubt gladly bend over and take it up the ass from the likes of bible belt buckle republicans such as Mr. Gingrich when it comes to each individual's stance on national drug policy.

 

[slimvictor]

What King found in Chinatown was a thriving opium industry. Even more troubling to the deputy minister, the drug was regularly being consumed by English-speaking whites.

OMG, no!
WHITE people using opium?
English-speaking white people? Those are, like, regular people, right?
That is just too much for us. Now we must act.
(Think of the little English-speaking, white babies!)

 

[ro4eva]

OMG, no!
WHITE people using opium?
English-speaking white people? Those are, like, regular people, right?
That is just too much for us. Now we must act.
(Think of the little English-speaking, white babies!)

Meanwhile, down south...

"OMG, black people are using cocaine - they're all gonna go crazy! They're gonna rape our women! English speaking white women - regular people! That is just too much for us. Now we must act."
(Think of the ensuing massive amount of mixed race babies - it's blasphemy!)