In just a few weeks, possessing small amounts of hard drugs like meth and heroin will be decriminalised in British Columbia - but one Vancouver man plans to take it a step further.
Jerry Martin is planning to open a store that sells the substances, which he says will be tested and safer than on the street.
It’s not legal, but that is not deterring him… and after getting sober himself and losing a brother to addiction, Jerry says every day his store is not open is another day people are in danger.
Jerry Martin told summer breakfast host Wilhelmina Shrimpton it's about providing clean, safe, and tested drugs to reduce drug-related fatalities.
"94 percent of OD's are from ages 15 to 24 and they are doing it by accident, they aren't meaning to die so we need to provide them with something safe," Martin said.
He explained that the most recent coroner's report in Canada states that 88 percent of all drugs have fentanyl cut in them, showing there is a real need to provide safe, clean products.
"They are always going to take drugs so we just want to provide something that they know what it is, what they're getting. It'll be safer for them.
"We're not going to be dealing with anyone that doesn't have a drug addiction already, we will make that part of our concept.
"We don't want to start anybody on an addiction."
While he recognises his plan is currently illegal, Martin believes what he is doing is for the greater good and sometimes you have to act first to influence change.
"Nobody wants to go to jail but if that's what you've got to do to get things rolling, that's the way it is.
"I'm not trying to do this to circumvent the law by doing something rebellious, a lot of change is made by people going out and … it's civil disobedience and it needs to be done in some cases."
He is confident that they will see significantly more progress through action rather than simply just talking about it, telling Shrimpton three years of conversation has garnered almost no significant progression.
Education is a key part of his plan - as Martin explained that most, if not all, staff will be former addicts who can provide helpful information about drug addiction to customers before they are able to purchase any products.
"We're dealing with people's lives here and we want to better them, not make things worse."
He hopes to eventually supply all drugs in his store but plans to start with heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines and MDMA and said sales will be limited to 2.5 grams per drug.
Listen to the full interview between Jerry Martin and Wilhelmina, filling in for Tova above.
You can also download the full interview on the Tova podcast, and listen on the go. Download the rova app on apple or android to listen to this podcast on the go, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.
