THE PUBLIC PROSECUTION SERVICE OF CANADA’S NEW 2020 POLICY ON SIMPLE POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES – “Criminal sanctions, as a primary response, have a limited effectiveness as (i) specific or general deterrents and (ii) as a means of addressing the public safety concerns when considering the harmful effects of criminal records and short periods of incarceration.” See paragraph 3.

https://www.ppsc-sppc.gc.ca/eng/pub/fpsd-sfpg/fps-sfp/tpd/d-g-eng.pdf