NDP demands apology to opioid overdose victims

NDP Health Critic, Don Davies, issued the following statement:

“I was deeply disturbed to hear Conservative MP Peter Kent tell Canadians that legal cannabis is ‘just as dangerous as fentanyl’ and that home-grown cannabis is ‘virtually the same as putting fentanyl on a shelf within reach of kids.’

This is an outrageous and dangerous falsehood. Worse, it is grossly insensitive to those who have lost loved ones to fentanyl overdoses. Trying to capitalize on their personal tragedy for political purposes is shameful, callous and unsupportable.

This statement is even more perverse and illogical given the growing body of data which suggests that cannabis can play a significant role in addressing the opioid crisis.

We respect that there are varying opinions on the merits of cannabis legalization. However, making completely incorrect claims and using Canadians’ deaths for partisan advantage are simply not acceptable.

I call on the Conservative party to correct the record and on Mr. Kent to offer an immediate apology to every Canadian who has been affected by the fentanyl crisis.”