Drug policy implementation depends on the actions of public servants designated to apply the policy. This can be examined in the implementation of decriminalization in British Columba, which was enacted on January 31, 2023. This qualitative study consisted of 36 semi-structured interviews with active police officers in British Columbia prior to its implementation between September and January 2023. Interview questions focused on officers’ views of decriminalization and the policy process. One area that police officers discussed was policy planning and its potential impact on implementation. In the analysis, we used policy alienation theory to examine police officers’ views of the planning stages of policy implementation. Findings show that police officers experienced policy powerlessness from a lack of influence in the process of designing BC’s decriminalization model. This powerlessness was linked to a perceived loss of operational power, such as the ability to respond to public drug consumption. Police also expressed policy meaninglessness as they anticipated decriminalization would not have an impact on addressing the overdose crisis and complicate their ability to meet the needs of the public, including people who use drugs. These study findings have implications for the potential compliance and engagement with implementing the policy among the professionals designated to translate the policy it into practice – police officers. Evidence of policy alienation, via operational powerlessness and meaninglessness may be an indication that the policy will fail to achieve its intended objectives – to reduce stigma and redirect people who use drugs away from the justice system.