East Hastings Street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside has long been the epicenter of Canada’s deadly opioid crisis. For years, lines of tents, discarded needles and open drug use have been common sights.
Residents of the neighbourhood have repeatedly called for a radical change to the government’s approach to illegal drugs, particularly since a recent spate of overdose deaths.
This week, they got their wish. An exemption came into effect on Wednesday, allowing any resident of the province of British Columbia to possess 2.5 grams of ecstasy, crack, cocaine or heroin – and even the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl – without fear of criminal charge.
The Downtown Eastside is an open wound.
There is nothing positive to be said about it beyond having the good fortune to escape that little hell.
I recall walking along East Hastings early one Saturday morning.
From about a block away I kept my eye on the very pretty young aboriginal girl approaching me.
Pretty and pretty fucked up. Open sores, needle tracks ran up both her arms.
I declined her offer to “Party.”
