[jgmjgm]

I appreciate your answer on this. No offense, but I don't believe you. Would you mind supplying more information beyond simply a statement? Do you have expertise in this area? (Are you a lawyer?) I know this is a big ask because we are all busy people, but you did answer this in a rather authoritative response...

I'm not trying to be adversarial, it's just that this answer doesn't provide anything but a "proof by anonymous internet authority" vague kind of answer.

[throwaway2048]

Provinces were allowed to override federal criminal law with respect to safe injection sites (federal police in canada were standing outside and arresting addicts as they came in/out)

Note, most local police in canada are federal.

The supreme court ruled that the provincial health concerns overrode federal criminal ones.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_(AG)_v_PHS_Community_Se...

This sort of thing has a long history in Canada. Although in theory the federal government is much stronger than the USA federal government with respect to Provinces/States, the reality has played out significantly differently. Likely because of the influence of Quebec on canadian regional politics, and the fact there are fewer provinces than there are American states.

[jgmjgm]

Thanks for the response and example.

Yes, actually re-reading OP and your comments made me realize that I actually agree with the parent post. Don't know what I was thinking at the time I originally read it.