Series #2: Drug User Liberation Front prosecution
De Facto digs behind the scenes of a police raid on a harm-reduction compassion club — and why a court threw out charges against its founders
On Sept. 29, the Supreme Court of B.C. ruled in favour of a harm-reduction compassion club whose founders were convicted of drug trafficking — risking long jail terms.
The judge agreed that parts of Canada's drug laws were unconstitutional.
Leading up to the ruling — which the province has since appealed — De Facto's Dustin Godfrey delved into how a harm-reduction project amidst a catastrophic health emergency became targeted for prosecution.
Dustin's articles relied on on freedom-of-information requests, judicial applications for the right to publish sealed evidence, and public court records to paint a picture of the contradictions and confusion behind a political maelstrom.
De Facto Journalism Co-op
David P. Ball
De Facto Journalism Co-op
David P. Ball
De Facto Journalism Co-op
David P. Ball