Background: In January 2023, British Columbia became the first Canadian province to decriminalize the personal possession of certain illicit drugs, allowing adults to possess up to 2.5 grams for personal use, and removing police authority to seize drugs under this limit unless there is evidence of trafficking. Although officers retained discretion to seize drugs exceeding 2.5 grams, police drug seizures have declined overall. Little is known about how this decline has occurred.

Objective: We explore how officers navigate the decision to seize drugs within a decriminalization policy context, using policy framing processes as an analytical lens.

Methods: We conducted 30 qualitative interviews with BC police officers between November 2023 and March 2024. Officers were asked about their views and experiences with decriminalization, including drug seizures. We used thematic analysis in our analysis.

Findings: Officers’ decision-making on drug seizures was shaped by three policy frames: (1) drugs as personal property, (2) drugs as health hazards, and (3) drugs as objects of crime. These frames were drawn from the law, officers’ experiences, and their personal perceptions of drugs and people who use drugs. Officers struggled to reconcile conflicting policy frames in executing drug seizure decisions, particularly when their views conflicted with the reform’s policy framing.

Implications: This study highlights competing policy frames officers navigate and use in making drug seizure decisions under decriminalization. These tensions highlight potential challenges in implementing progressive policies within policing institutions with conflicting policy frames. We discuss opportunities for challenging or leveraging these existing frames in policy change.