A person using drugs at a bus stop. (Photo via Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press)
With British Columbia’s controversial drug decriminalization pilot officially coming to an end on January 31st, the Kamloops RCMP say the policy shift has had a noticeable impact on frontline policing — particularly in relation to property crime and public drug use.
In his 2025 Year in Review report to council, Superintendent Jeff Pelley outlined early trends observed during the initial weeks of the province’s pilot program, which allowed adults to possess small amounts of certain illicit drugs without facing criminal charges.
Spike in Drug-Related Offences During Pilot’s Early Weeks
While the broader aim of decriminalization was to treat substance use as a public health issue rather than a criminal one, Pelley said early statistics told a more complicated story.
In the first three weeks of the pilot program, Kamloops RCMP recorded:
- An increase in Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) offences
- A rise in public drug use
- An uptick in drug trafficking investigations
- More mischief incidents
- Increased breaches of court orders
“We are seeing a rise in a number of areas,” Pelley said.
Although the pilot did not legalize trafficking or large-scale possession, officers observed more open drug use and continued enforcement activity around trafficking and court order violations.
What Comes Next?
With the provincial pilot program now concluded, policing and public policy discussions are expected to shift once again.
Advocates have argued that decriminalization reduces stigma and helps connect people to treatment, while critics point to concerns about public safety and visible drug use. Locally, RCMP leadership maintains that addiction-driven property crime remains a central enforcement priority regardless of legislative changes.
As Kamloops moves into a post-pilot phase, police say their focus remains steady: targeted patrols, prolific offender management, and strategic deployment of resources to curb theft and drug-related crime.
Whether the end of decriminalization will reverse the trends observed during its rollout remains to be seen — but for now, RCMP describe the landscape as dynamic, complex, and evolving.
