Canada Supreme Court rules that North America’s only legal drug injection site can stay open

[marmar]

OTTAWA -- The Supreme Court of Canada dramatically derailed part of the Conservative government's tough-on-crime juggernaut with a landmark ruling Friday that firmly supports a Vancouver safe-injection site for drug addicts.

Dour Tories did not attempt to hide their disappointment at the 9-0 decision that left the government no wiggle room, firmly rebuked the Harper government's crime agenda and set a precedent on the division of federal and provincial powers.

The court ordered the government to abandon its effort to close the Vancouver facility and to grant an exemption to protect Insite staff from prosecution for drug possession or trafficking.

"We're disappointed," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said at an event in Quebec City. "We have a different policy. We'll take a look at the decision but we will clearly act in respect and within the constraints of the decision." ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/injection-site-should-stay-high-court-says-130900558.html