The B.C. NDP is scaling back its drug decriminalization experiment after skyrocketing crime and public disorder spurred an indignant backlash throughout the province. While this is a welcome development, Premier David Eby’s belated pivot deserves little praise.

When the province decriminalized drugs early last year, many people, myself included, predicted that it would be a disaster. While there are a variety of ways to approach decriminalization, some of which are productive, the model embraced by Eby was reckless and lazy.