Despite B.C.B次元官网网址檚 policy makers being on their summer break, a call for the decriminalization of illicit drugs could be heard loud and clear outside the B.C. Legislature Saturday.

Lining up on the front lawn of the legislature in Victoria, dozens stood holding photos of loved ones who have fatally overdosed B次元官网网址� photos of the children, parents and siblings they wish they could have one more day with.

are rallying to call for the decriminalization of drugs, holding signs of family and friend theyB次元官网网址檝e lost to the opioid crisis

B次元官网网址� Victoria B次元官网网址 (@VictoriaB次元官网网址)

Meanwhile, hundreds of painted patches of fabric, or B次元官网网址渇lags of hopeB次元官网网址� flew in the wind on string, each representing a live claimed.

B次元官网网址淲e are here with members of our group B次元官网网址� about 500 strong, from coast to coast B次元官网网址� who have come here to Victoria for our rally to ask for decriminalization of the personal possession of illicit substances,B次元官网网址� said Petra Schulz, a co-founder of Moms Stop the Harm and organizer of the demonstration.

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Moms Stop the Harm is a nation-wide network of Canadian families whose loved ones have died of illicit drug overdoses or who hope for recovery for many across the country struggling with drug use.

Co-founded by Schultz, B.C. mom Leslie McBain and Lorna Thomas, the group advocates for an approach to solve the rising number of overdose deaths that is based on reducing harm, where people who use drugs are treated with respect, compassion and support.

B次元官网网址淲e hope that showing and sharing the stories of our loved ones will help others in the future and bring about the policy change that we need so that we will not have the numbers of victims that we have at the moment,B次元官网网址� Schulz said.

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of an illicit overdose in Canada last year, with more than 72 per cent of those deaths due to the illegal street version of powerful opioid fentanyl. In B.C., 1,400 people died due to drug overdoses in the same time frame.

From January to April this year, of an overdose in the province, based on the latest data available from BC Coroners Service.

Since the province declared its own health emergency in 2016 B次元官网网址� following a devastating increase in the number of overdose deaths caused by the illicit opioid fentanyl B次元官网网址� B.C.B次元官网网址檚 top health officials have recommended prescription heroin and suboxone treatments in order to provide a spectrum of support for recovering drug users.

Jennifer HedicanB次元官网网址檚 26-year old son, Ryan, had tried to get clean from drug use several times, but passed away of an opioid overdose in April 2017. Now Hedican has speared a petition asking that the government declare the opioid crisis a national public health emergency, that drugs be decriminalized, and that a safe source of drugs be provided.

B次元官网网址淲e need it to be a national public health emergency, like it was for H1N1, SARS and Ebola, which they havenB次元官网网址檛 done for the opioid epidemic and at this point more people have died from drugs than the other three combined,B次元官网网址� Hedican said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hoping to have as many signatures as the people who have died over the last two and a half years, which would be more than 10,000.B次元官网网址�

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Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor announced in March that legal changes will soon allow Canadians suffering from opioid use to have access to prescription heroin in addiction clinics, while methadone treatment will be available through health-care practitioners without any need for federal exemption.

However, the federal minister has told Black Press Media legalizing or decriminalizing opioids is off the table.