A enterprise proprietor in Vancouver, Canada, says he’s attempting to advertise protected drug use by opening a brick-and-mortar store that sells illicit substances.
The Medication Retailer opened Wednesday in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, the place proprietor Jerry Martin is promoting heroin, cocaine, meth, MDMA and different medication from a cellular storefront.
Although the province of British Columbia simply started a three-year strategy of decriminalizing minor drug possession, the shop is working illegally.
Martin says he’s prepared to threat arrest, nonetheless, given the human toll of the drug epidemic. Based on Canadian well being officers, over 11,000 British Columbians have died of drug overdoses since 2016.
Consultants say many of those deaths have been attributable to the opioid fentanyl, which has been contaminating drug provides all through Canada and the U.S. for years.
John Lehmann/For The Washington Submit by way of Getty Pictures
“Individuals are dying,” Martin informed Vice. “Particularly now, they’ve allowed your entire province to do these medication … However they’ve offered no clear, protected provide. They’re getting it from the identical provide that everyone’s overdosing from.”
Martin says his store is offering examined, adulterant-free medication at costs corresponding to avenue worth.
There are a number of different safeguards in place for purchasers, he stated. Individuals should confirm they’re no less than 18 years outdated with a authorities ID, along with signing a waiver stating they’ve used the substance up to now.
Consumers may even solely be permitted to buy a most of two.5 grams of every drug, the identical quantity the province’s decriminalization insurance policies permit an individual to own.
Whereas Martin stated he was solely conserving a “minimal” quantity of merchandise on him, it’s unlikely British Columbia’s loosening drug insurance policies will shield him.
Although Canada has embraced progressive drug legal guidelines, the utmost penalty for promoting medication like heroin and cocaine continues to be life in jail.
Vancouver has lengthy been on the forefront of the “hurt discount” motion, which goals to supply help for drug customers as an alternative of stigma.
It was one of many first cities on the planet to pilot the usage of protected websites for injectable medication again in 2003.
Advocates say drug testing and safe-use websites give individuals entry to life-saving data and social companies, like housing and rehabilitation.