Some organizations and individuals are taking issue with the Government of Saskatchewan’s proposal to label illicit drug needles as street weapons.
Amendments to the Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act will allow municipalities and First Nations to regulate the possession, transportation, and storage of fentanyl, methamphetamine and hypodermic needles in public.
However, the Queen City Wellness Pharmacy says the change will further stigmatize people dealing with addiction.
“I’m so grateful for our police officers, but what this is going to do is going to make our vulnerable people more afraid to call the police and more afraid to get help,” voiced store operator Sarah Kozusko.
“We’re going to end up with our vulnerable people being hurt more, and suffering more, because they’re worried about carrying a needle, that’s to them, a lifeline.”
Kozusko said she understands the policy intends to create a safe environment for the general public. However, she says it fails to address the root cause.
“I totally agree that nobody wants to see people smoking drugs or injecting drugs on the street corners, but that’s a sign of a bigger issue,” she expressed.
“It’s a sign of the fact that we don’t have enough housing, that we don’t have enough social services, that people don’t have safe places to be and they are needing to use these substances to numb themselves.”
In a statement to CTV News, the provincial government reiterated that it believes the act will be effective in improving community safety.
“These amendments recognize the significant public safety risks posed by items such as fentanyl when used outside of the medical system,” the Ministry of Justice stated.
“The unsafe use or transportation of fentanyl in public spaces poses a risk not only to the user, but to other members of the public that may encounter the substance.”
The province also said it recognizes that many items used as street weapons do have legitimate legal purposes, adding the legislation will contain exemptions to ensure items can still be used for lawful purposes such as medical treatment, food preparation and protection from wildlife threats.
Community organization White Pony Lodge also expressed their concerns about the act, stating it fails to support people struggling with addiction and homelessness.
“I’m not sure how this opens up more beds, opens up more mental health spaces, brings professionals in to help people out of addictions. I see none of that in this amendment,” voiced Leah O’Malley, board chair of White Pony Lodge.
O’Malley added that by categorizing needles used illicitly as “weapons” could misinform the public.
“Weapons are usually seen as something that are very violent and very dangerous,” she said.
“That needle is mostly dangerous to that person until they walk away, and then it might be dangerous to other people. I think I’ll see what happens if they offer more supports in conjunction with this, maybe it will be successful, I’m just skeptical at this time.”
The Safe Public Spaces (Street Weapons) Act is expected to be passed in the legislature this spring and come into force this summer.
Notably, the Act will enable municipalities and First Nations to opt into the new rules. It will not require them to do so.
