A Canadian activist has opened what is believed to be the world's first bricks and mortar shop selling illicit substances.
With the very appropriate name of The Drugs Store, the outlet is located in Vancouver and sells a range of products including heroin, cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine.
51-year-old Jerry Martin is hoping to leverage off British Columbia's progressive stance on drugs, including a three-year decriminalisation trial scheme for possession of small amounts of the illegal items.
It's still completely illegal to sell the drugs, but Martin hopes to spark a constitutional challenge by opening the store to highlight the need for addicts to be able to access drugs that have been tested and are free from adulterants.
"People are dying," he said.
"Especially now, they've allowed the entire province to do these drugs...but they've provided no clean, safe supply.
"They're getting it from the same supply that everybody's overdosing from," he said.
Martin said he would sell a maximum of 2.5g of each drug to clients - the amount that can be carried under the pilot program without facing criminal charges, according to Vice News.
The report said he'd had some difficulty getting the project off the ground, partly because of a previous criminal conviction for drug trafficking which had impacted his credit rating and ability to rent premises.
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