The point ppl in Canada make is that Portugal was successful because it pairs decriminalization with treatment. Here, we just decriminalized, started prescribing opioids (via pharmacies) to people to give them a safe supply -- but didn't do much by way of treatment centres and helping people overcome their addition.

The result was that people take the safe supply (not laced with fentanyl) sell it to high-school kids, take the money any buy the very very cheap fentanyl product that China/Mexican cartels are dumping in Vancouver.

In my view, the dumping of fentanyl and opioids into the Canadian market is part of a strategy by adversaries to decay our society. By legalizing it, we are submitting. I'm well aware that sounds conspiratorial, but it is even something the director of the FBI in the United States has said. Some (including the FBI director) argue that the CCP views it as a reverse opium war. If you are not familiar with the Opium Wars its worth a Google/ChatGPT. It provides interesting context.

Here is a GPT summary of the FBI director's position:

FBI Director Kash Patel has made several statements alleging that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is involved in shipping fentanyl precursors to Vancouver, Canada, as part of a transnational drug trafficking network. Below is a summary of his key claims based on available information:

Vancouver as a Hub for Fentanyl Production and Export: Patel stated that Vancouver has become a global hub for fentanyl production and distribution. He alleged that Mexican drug cartels, in collaboration with CCP-linked suppliers, are shipping fentanyl precursors to Canada, where the drug is manufactured in sophisticated "superlabs" before being distributed globally, including to the United States. He noted that this shift to Vancouver occurred because of tightened enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border. Specifically, he said, “They’re flying it into Vancouver. They’re taking the precursors up to Canada, manufacturing it up there, and doing their global distribution routes from up there because we’ve been so effective down south.”

CCP’s Role in Supplying Precursors: Patel claimed that the CCP is the primary source of fentanyl precursors, which are the raw materials needed to produce the drug. He accused Chinese suppliers of deliberately routing these precursors through third countries, such as India, to evade international scrutiny, but emphasized that Canada, particularly Vancouver, is a key destination for these shipments. He stated, “The fentanyl precursors, the stuff you need to make fentanyl, comes from mainland [China].”

Geopolitical Motive: Patel argued that the CCP’s involvement in the fentanyl trade is not primarily profit-driven but rather a strategic effort to destabilize the United States. He described it as a “directed approach” to weaken America by targeting its population, particularly young people, saying, “Why don’t we go and take out generations of young men and women who might grow up to serve in the United States military, or become a cop, or become a teacher?” He further claimed that China is “not making a ton of money” from the trade, suggesting the motive is geopolitical sabotage.

Kash Patel has described the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) alleged involvement in the fentanyl trade as a “reverse Opium War.” In interviews, including on The Joe Rogan Experience (June 2025), he framed the CCP’s role in supplying fentanyl precursors to Vancouver and other regions as a deliberate strategy to destabilize the United States, drawing a historical parallel to the 19th-century Opium Wars, where Western powers, particularly Britain, flooded China with opium, leading to widespread addiction and social collapse. Patel argued that the CCP is now “reversing” this tactic by facilitating the flow of fentanyl into North America to weaken its adversaries, stating, “They’re running a reverse Opium War on us.” He emphasized that the motive is geopolitical, aimed at undermining American society, particularly its youth, rather than purely financial gain.

Canadian here. Vancouver and Victoria, Canada are suffering dearly from this policy. It is very shortsighted. Drug related deaths are up, crime is up, and worst of all it takes the ability of parents to say there are consequences to using such drugs away from them. I fear the day my son comes to me and says, 'whatever dad, its not illegal.'

If you are interested in this topic, watch this documentary -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT8OU8Yhs_s&t=731s. Aaaron Gunn, the person who made that film, is now a member of parliament in Canada.