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The Overdose Prevention Society launched last September as a tent in the Downtown Eastside Street Market, creating an unofficial “pop-up supervised-injection site.” In the 12 months since then, the OPS upgraded from a tent to a trailer, and received support from the provincial Ministry of Health.

Across B.C., 780 people died from suspected illicit drug overdoses in the first half of this year, the B.C. Coroners Service reported.

The affiliated High Hopes cannabis dispensary started operating a few months ago.

High Hopes also received a visit from the VPD last month but officers just asked questions and left without confiscating product.

With roughly 60 unlicensed marijuana dispensaries operating in Vancouver, Blyth is confused as to why police would target one that is providing relief to city’s most vulnerable citizens.

“People with mental health issues, PTSD, living in an alley … they are looking for pain relief and it’s hard to come right off drugs. There are not enough detox centres, so we are educating people and trying to give them an alternative that wasn’t going to kill them,” said Blyth. “(High Hopes) was well-known to the police and to the city. It’s been a very good program.”