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Poll result: Richmond News reader split on decriminalization of certain illicit drugs

Almost half who answered the poll believe the move will make the crisis worse, while many want more help in place for addicts
Alan Campbell
Alan Campbell
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Twenty-eight people died in Richmond in 2022 of drug poisoning.

B.C. started a new exemption for illicit drugs – police can no longer arrest people in possession of 2.5 grams of opioids, fentanyl, cocaine, crack, methamphetamines and MDMA (ecstasy).

Richmond News polled 595 Richmond News readers and asked the question: How do you feel about the decriminalization of certain illicit drugs in B.C.?

The poll ran from 1/31/2023 to 2/5/2023. Of the 595 votes, we can determine that 117 are from within the community. The full results are as follows:

Should have happened many years ago 11.11 % local, 13.78 % total    
Agree with it, but more help needs to be in place for addicts 29.06 % local, 24.03 % total    
Not sure 7.69 % local, 5.71 % total    
I'm concerned about 4.27 % local, 7.56 % total    
It's going to make the drug crisis worse 47.86 % local, 48.91 % total    
  Local   Total

Results are based on an online study of adult Richmond News readers that are located in Richmond. The margin of error - which measures sample variability - is +/- 4.01%, 19 times out of 20.

Richmond News uses a variety of techniques to capture data, detect and prevent fraudulent votes, detect and prevent robots, and filter out non-local and duplicate votes.