Toronto votes in favour of asking Trudeau Liberals to decriminalize drug possession

If approved, this will only apply to those who have small enough quantities. Distribution will still be considered illegal.

On Monday, the Health Board asked the city's chief doctor to submit an application to the federal government, according to CP24.

Toronto has issued a plan and a framework, illustrating how this plan may work. They will have to receive approval from Health Canada in order for this plan to come to fruition.

All this is part of a larger plan to combat addiction, rather than assist policing efforts. The city will also plan to increase funding to health and social services and will work with federal and provincial officials to decriminalize drugs nationally.

More importantly, Toronto will work to decriminalize drugs within the boundaries of the city. It is worth noting that the production and sale of drugs will still be illegal. Toronto, like many North American cities, has seen increasing deaths related to drug overdoses. Last year, these deaths increased by 81 percent.

"Substance use is a health issue, not a criminal issue, and requires a public health approach to remove structural barriers to accessing health and social services, provide alternatives to the toxic drug supply, and expand services," wrote city officials in a statement. "What began as an opioid poisoning crisis is now most accurately described as a drug poisoning crisis."