This enactment amends the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in order to exempt from charges for possession a person who seeks emergency medical or law enforcement assistance for themselves or another person following overdosing on a controlled substance.

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Definition of overdose

4.‍1 (1) For the purposes of this section, overdose means a physiological event induced by the introduction of a controlled substance into the body of a person that results in a life-threatening situation and that a reasonable person would believe requires emergency medical or law enforcement assistance.

Exemption from possession of substance charges

(2) No one who seeks emergency medical or law enforcement assistance because they, or another person, are suffering from an overdose is to be charged under subsection 4(1) if the evidence in support of that offence was obtained or discovered as a result of that person having sought assistance and having remained at the scene.

Precision

(3) The exemption under subsection (2) applies to any person who is at the scene upon the arrival of the emergency medical or law enforcement assistance.