Category: illicit drugs

US State Department Says No Reply From Beijing About China Rejoining Global Efforts to Fight Drugs

China has not responded to an invitation to be part of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, probably due to its strained diplomatic relations with the United States, officials said. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the United States is joining over 80 countries and dozens of international agencies to fight synthetic…


Scientists Found New Psychoactive Drugs in Wastewaters

A new study has identified over a dozen new psychoactive drugs in the wastewater of various sites worldwide. The trend of increasing new psychoactive substances (NPS) and the difficulty for law enforcement to control their circulation prompted a study by the University of Queensland, Australia, which was part of an international wastewater surveillance program. The study…


Rising Living Costs Have No Impact on Australian Illicit Drug Consumption

Australia saw a fall in illegal drug consumption in the past year. However, the downward trend was unrelated to high living cost pressures, raising concerns about the impact of illicit drugs on household budgets amid tough economic conditions. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has released the latest wastewater analysis, which collected data from 58 wastewater…


Queensland Becomes First Australian State to Roll out Pill Testing

Queensland will become the first Australian state to roll out pill-testing sites in an attempt to curb the harmful effects of illicit drugs. The move will shift the country more in line with global standards on harm minimisation, one advocate says. Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said on Feb. 25 that Queensland would introduce pill testing at mobile…


Most Canadians Oppose Decriminalizing Narcotics, Says Privy Council Report

Canadians are opposed to the decriminalization of personal possession of cocaine and other narcotics in British Columbia, according to a recent Privy Council Office report. “Though some participants felt decriminalization might represent a positive development a large number were more opposed to the idea,” said the report, titled “Continuous Qualitative Data Collection of Canadians’ Views,”…


Downtown Vancouver Store Hit by Repeated Vandalism, Owner Points to Surge in Drug-Related Crime

In the past year and a half after Sebastian & Co Fine Meats opened for business in downtown Vancouver, the butcher has already been hit by severe vandalism five times. Owner Sebastian Cortez says businesses like his are becoming increasingly troubled by surging crime rates in the city, which he attributes to the city’s burgeoning drug crisis….


Downtown Vancouver Store Hit by Repeated Vandalism, Owner Blames Surge in Drug-Related Crime

In the past year and a half since Sebastian & Co Fine Meats opened for business in downtown Vancouver, the butcher shop has been hit by severe vandalism five times. Owner Sebastian Cortez says businesses like his are becoming increasingly troubled by surging crime rates in the city, which he attributes to the burgeoning drug crisis….


$155 Million in Meth, Cocaine Found Hidden in Vintage Bentley Shipped From Canada to Australia

A vintage Bentley shipped from Canada to Australia was found stuffed with more than $155 million in illicit drugs, Australian police said. Four people have been arrested and charged as a result. The New South Wales (NSW) Police Force said in a news release on Aug. 26 that the Australian Border Force (ABF) acted on…


No Countrywide Decriminalization to Follow as BC Exempts Possession of Small Amounts of Illegal Drugs: Justice Minister

Following British Columbia’s announcement to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use, federal Justice Minister David Lametti said currently there won’t be a “larger discussion” on decriminalization across the country. Lametti made the remarks just before Parliament is expected to vote on an NDP private member’s bill on a nationwide decriminalization…


BC Exempts Small Amounts of Illicit Drug Possession From Criminal Charges for 3 Years Amid Overdose Crisis

British Columbians will not be arrested or charged for possession of small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use for three years, as the government seeks to address an overdose crisis in the province. B.C. has been struggling with a public health crisis in relation to overdose deaths and related harms since 2016, with close…