S-232Health-Centred Approach to Substance Use Act
An Act respecting the development of a national strategy for the decriminalization of illegal substances, to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
Senate public bill, introduced in the Senate on December 7, 2021
- Status
- In committee in the Senate since April 11, 2024
- Sponsor
- Gwen BonifaceSenator
- Senator
What it does
Develops a national strategy to decriminalize illegal substances and repeals federal possession offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
What it does
- Requires the Minister of Health to develop a national strategy for decriminalizing illegal substances.
- Requires the strategy to be built with consultations on health, justice and public safety, including with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people and organizations.
- Says the strategy must consider a possession threshold, a decision maker for that threshold, and an administrative sanctions system that could include warnings, fines or treatment referrals.
- Requires a conference within 180 days after the Act comes into force, then a report to Parliament within two years and an online posting within 10 days.
- Repeals sections 4 and 4.1 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, ending the federal offence of possessing scheduled substances and removing the related emergency-help exemption.
- Updates related definitions and cross-references in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Criminal Code and Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.
Who it affects
- People who use illegal substances
- People with substance use disorder
- First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities
- Health and addictions services
- Police services
- Courts
- Provincial and territorial governments
- Money laundering registrants
Topics
Background
The bill amends the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, including the parts that now make possession of certain scheduled substances an offence.
Where it is
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Current stage. Now here
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
House of Commons
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by a senator. If the Senate passes it, it goes to the House of Commons, where an MP must agree to sponsor it. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At consideration in committee in the Senate. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.