A majority voted in favour of adopting the motion to call on the Canadian government to decriminalize the simple possession of drugs for personal use at Montreal's City Council on January 26.

"By ratifying this motion, the City of Montreal is adopting a change of direction that has become more than urgent," a joint press release from various community organizations reads. 

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By ratifying this motion, the City of Montreal is adopting a change of direction that has become more than urgent.

The AIDQ

The hope with this motion is that it "will send a clear message to the federal government to move away from repressive policies and to make the decriminalization of simple possession of drugs for personal use a reality for the benefit of our society and its citizens."

Montreal is thus adding its name to the list of cities across the country that are asking the federal government to decriminalize the simple possession of drugs for personal use.

"The City of Montreal [will be] following in the footsteps of other Canadian cities, such as Cobourg, Colombier, Creitghton, Delta, Halton Hills, Kamloops, Saint-Joseph-de-Coleraine, Sainte-emelie-de-l'energie, Saint-Valerien, Salmo, Selwin, Squamish, Toronto, Victoria and, of course, Vancouver."

On January 26, City Councillors Marvin Rotrand and Christian Arseneault requested that the city "develop, within its areas of jurisdiction, a harm reduction strategy in collaboration and consultation with community stakeholders and government partners that takes into account the legal context related to drugs and its evolution."

This would be done "in order to reduce the negative health effects of drugs on people who use drugs."

The organizations behind the press release also "urge Montreal to follow through on its commitment by requesting an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act for its territory."