Home / Crime and Justice / Vancouver Drug Club Founder Criticizes Health Canada Urgency
Vancouver Drug Club Founder Criticizes Health Canada Urgency
27 Nov
Summary
- Health Canada lacked urgency in addressing the drug crisis.
- Drug club sourced substances from the dark web due to regulatory barriers.
- DULF faced arrests after gaining public attention and funding.
Jeremy Kalicum, a co-founder of Vancouver's Drug User Liberation Front (DULF), expressed surprise at Health Canada's perceived lack of urgency in addressing the ongoing toxic drug crisis. He testified in B.C. Supreme Court that regulatory barriers prevented DULF from accessing pharmaceutical-grade drugs, compelling the organization to procure substances from the dark web.
DULF's initial proposal to Health Canada included sourcing pure heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, but the current legal framework proved insurmountable. Kalicum stated that the group actively sought to collaborate with Health Canada on their 'compassion club' model, aiming to test illicit drugs and supply high-purity substances to mitigate overdose risks.
The club, which operated from August 2022 to October 2023, received annual funding of $200,000 from Vancouver Coastal Health for drug checking and overdose prevention. However, drug purchases were funded by donations and sold at cost to members. Kalicum and Eris Nyx were convicted of possession for trafficking, with their sentences pending the constitutional challenge outcome.
