Representatives of BC family and caregiver groups want the provincial government to invest 100 per cent of net tax revenue from cannabis sales for substance use addiction prevention and treatment.
The BC budget estimates that taxation of cannabis will generate $75 million in revenue the first year alone.
Louise Cameron with "Moms Stop the Harm", and the BC Centre on Substance Use says the investment needs to address rapid access to treatment and recovery services.
"There's a long wait list for folks to get in who can't afford to pay out of pocket, and anybody with any experience with substance use disorder and addiction knows you need to strike when the iron is hot--when the individual is asking for help, the help needs to be immediate.
Cameron says we need to acknowledge the harms created by prohibition both in fueling the current overdose crisis and re-enforcing stigma.