Episode 34: The Iron Law

Image: November 11, 1922. Bureau of Prohibition agents with confiscated still for making bootleg alcohol. Washington, DC, USA. (Source: Library of Congress)

Drug decriminalization is coming to British Columbia. And that’s a big step forward.

Our movement has been fighting for decriminalization for decades. To us, decriminalization means getting cops, courts and jails out of our lives. It means police stop harassing, arresting and seizing dope off of us.  

For the past year, VANDU sent Garth and others to sit on a government committee and fight for this vision. Unsurprisingly, much of our advice was disregarded. 

But the cops fought for low thresholds -- and won. That means that a big proportion of drug users in BC will remain criminalized.  

Cops and politicians have also made noise about ramping up enforcement on dealers. On today’s show, I talk to Leo Beletsky about why this is a bad idea that could make the overdose crisis even worse.

Transcript

A complete transcript of this episode is in preparation and will be published here when ready.

Further Reading

• Beletsky, Leo, and Corey S. Davis. 2017. “Today’s Fentanyl Crisis: Prohibition’s Iron Law, Revisited.” International Journal of Drug Policy 46: 156–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.05.050.

• Betsos, Alex, Jenna Valleriani, Jade Boyd, Geoff Bardwell, Thomas Kerr, and Ryan McNeil. 2021. “‘I Couldn’t Live with Killing One of My Friends or Anybody’: A Rapid Ethnographic Study of Drug Sellers’ Use of Drug Checking.” International Journal of Drug Policy 87: 102845. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102845.

• Cohen, Richard C. 1986. “How the Narcs Created Crack.” National Review, December 5, 1986. https://web.p.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=e1e47401-6acb-4bfd-879a-7faec46d48af%40redis.

• Hadland, Scott E, and Leo Beletsky. 2018. “Tighter Prescribing Regulations Drive Illicit Opioid Sales.” BMJ, k2480. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k2480.

• Harris, Magdalena et al. 2015. “‘It’s Russian Roulette’: Adulteration, Adverse Effects and Drug Use Transitions during the 2010/2011 United Kingdom Heroin Shortage.” International Journal of Drug Policy 26 (1): 51–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.09.009.

• Harris, Magdalena. 2013. “The ‘Do-It-Yourself’ New Zealand Injecting Scene: Implications for Harm Reduction.” International Journal of Drug Policy 24 (4): 281–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2012.06.007.

• Ivsins, Andrew, Jade Boyd, Leo Beletsky, and Ryan McNeil. 2020. “Tackling the Overdose Crisis: The Role of Safe Supply.” International Journal of Drug Policy 80: 102769. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102769.

• McNeil, Ryan, et al. 2022. “Implementation of Safe Supply Alternatives During Intersecting COVID-19 and Overdose Health Emergencies in British Columbia, Canada, 2021.” Am J Public Health 112 (S2): S151–58. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2021.306692.

• Peterson, Meghan et al. 2019. “‘One Guy Goes to Jail, Two People Are Ready to Take His Spot’: Perspectives on Drug-Induced Homicide Laws among Incarcerated Individuals.” International Journal of Drug Policy 70: 47–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.05.001.

• Special Despatch to, The Globe. 1924. "U.S. DRINKS QUANTITY OF POISONED ALCOHOL: PROHIBITION OFFICIAL SAYS SIX MILLION GALLONS DENATURED LIQUID CONSUMED YEARLY." The Globe (1844-1936), Dec 19, 1. https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/u-s-drinks-quantity-poisoned-alcohol/docview/1356660134/se-2.

• Special Purpose Committee on the Decriminalization of Illicit Drugs. 2020. “Decriminalization for Simple Possession of Illicit Drugs: Exploring Impacts on Public Safety & Policing.” The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP). https://www.cacp.ca/index.html?asst_id=2189%20.

Rest in Peace

I’d like to acknowledge the loss of two amazing community leaders this month. 

Kat Norris was a comrade and fighter from Lyackson First Nation. I got to know Kat when community groups banded together to fight the extra policing and gentrification that came with Vancouver’s 2010 Olympics. Kat’s been sticking up for people in East Vancouver since the late 1970s and was famous for her fry bread giveaways. 

We’d also like to say goodbye to Chrissy Brett. Chrissy was from the Nuxalk Nation (New-hulk). She organized and acted as a spokesperson and defender for many tent encampments in Victoria and Vancouver, including at Oppenheimer Park. 

—Garth

Credits

Crackdown is produced on Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh territories. 

Our editorial board is: Samona Marsh, Shelda Kastor, Jeff Louden, Dean Wilson, Laura Shaver, Reija Jean. And rest in peace, Dave Murray, Greg Fresz and Chereece Keewatin.

This episode was conceptualized, written, and produced by Sam Fenn, Alexander Kim, Alex De Boer, Lisa Hale, Jade Boyd, and Garth Mullins. 

Intellectual Direction for this episode by Jade Boyd.

Sound design by Alexander Kim. Original score was written and performed by James Ash, Sam Fenn, and Garth Mullins. 

Special thanks to Professor Magdalena Harris for her time and research on the UK heroin shortage. 

If you like what we do, please consider donating at patreon.com/crackdownpod. 

Crackdown is funded in part by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Stay safe and keep six.