Jerry Martin, a Vancouver man who operated a mobile shop selling “clean” drugs, including heroin, cocaine, meth, and MDMA, tragically died of a suspected fentanyl overdose.

Martin, 51, had a history of cocaine addiction and experienced periods of homelessness, according to VICE.

While he initially survived the overdose and was hospitalized, he passed away on Friday.

In May, Martin made headlines when he opened the Drugs Store, the first brick-and-mortar shop in Canada and the U.S. to openly sell illicit substances.

However, authorities arrested him less than 24 hours after the grand opening.

His partner, Krista Thomas, stated that Martin believed people were self-medicating trauma and needed a safe supply. She acknowledged that Martin had his own trauma and unfortunately relapsed.

Martin’s decision to open the Drugs Store was influenced by the death of his stepbrother, who died from a drug overdose after being released from prison.

The tragic loss prompted Martin to take action.

British Columbia is facing a severe overdose crisis, with 211 lives lost to drug overdoses in January alone, averaging seven deaths per day, as reported by CBC.

Since a national emergency was declared in 2016, the death rate has more than doubled, rising from 20.5 per 100,000 to 47.

The Drugs Store aimed to provide a safer alternative to the dangerous street drugs that are often laced with fentanyl or other substances.

However, the initiative faced criticism due to concerns about enabling drug use and perpetuating dependency.

Vancouver launched a three-year pilot program earlier this year, which means that adults found with less than 2.5 grams of illicit substances will not face charges or arrests.

The program aims to treat substance use as a public health matter rather than a criminal justice issue.

In an attempt to explore harm reduction strategies, two years ago, British Columbia established the first clinic offering take-home medical-grade heroin.

Similar harm reduction practices, such as providing free Narcan and crack pipes through vending machines, are being implemented in certain areas of the United States, like New York City.

The tragic death of Jerry Martin serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding addiction and the ongoing challenges in addressing the overdose crisis.

It prompts reflection on the effectiveness of harm reduction programs and the potential unintended consequences they may entail.