The Canadian government has announced it will allow the province of British Columbia to try a three-year experiment in decriminalising possession of small amounts of drugs.

The possession of small amounts of several illicit drugs, including cocaine and opioids such as fentanyl or heroin, will be temporarily decriminalised in a trial described as a bold step to turn the tide in the province’s overdose crisis

British Columbian Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson, told Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings the public emergency in illicit drugs had been ongoing for six years.

“We got to a point where we losing seven people a day to drug toxicity,” she said.

Leading Perth criminal barrister Tom Percy QC told Bartlett WA should try something similar but was doubtful given the state government’s recent comments against a Bill for small amounts of cannabis by the Legalise Cannabis WA Party.

“We’ve been going nowhere for a long time,” he said on Monday in response to the Canadian move.

“We’ve got to do something about it… at least they’re being brave over there, but I can’t see the McGowan government having a bar of it.”

Tap PLAY below to hear the minister and Percy discuss the benefits of decriminalisation