Criminal Offence Penalty Chart

Drug Offences

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S=Summary H=Hybrid I=Indictable

Offence description Controlled Drugs and Substances Act Section S/H/I Minimum penalty Discharge available Maximum Penalty
(S)		 Maximum Penalty
(I)
Possession of marijuana (up to 30 gms.) or hashish (up to 1 gm.) 4(1) S   yes 6 mos./$1,000 fine  
Possession of marijuana or hashish
 4(1) H   yes 6 mos./$1,000 - 1st offence; 1 yr./$2,000 - subsequent offence 5 yrs. less a day
Possession of cocaine or heroin 4(1) H   yes 6 mos./$1,000 - 1st offence; 1 yr./$2,000 - subsequent offence 7 yrs.
Possession of amphetamines, LSD, mescaline, or psilocybin 4(1) H   yes 6 mos./$1,000 - 1st offence; 1 yr./$2,000 - subsequent offence 3 yrs.
Trafficking in marijuana or hashish or possession for the purpose of trafficking (up to 3 kgs.) 5 I   yes   5 yrs. less a day
Trafficking in marijuana or hashish or possession for the purpose of trafficking (3 kgs. or more) 5 I       life imprisonment
Trafficking in cocaine or heroin or possession for the purpose of trafficking 5 I       life imprisonment
Trafficking in amphetamines, LSD, mescaline, or psilocybin or possession for the purpose of trafficking 5 H   yes 18 mos./$2,000 fine 10 yrs.
Trafficking in barbituates or anabolic steroids or possession for the purpose of trafficking 5 H   yes 1 yr./$2,000 fine 3 yrs.
Importing, exporting heroin, cocaine, marijuana or hashish 6 I       life imprisonment
Importing, exporting amphetamines, LSD, mescaline, or psilocybin 6 H   yes 18 mos./$2,000 fine 10 yrs.
Cultivation of marijuana 7 I   yes   7 yrs.
Production of cocaine, heroin or hashish 7 I       life imprisonment
Production of amphetamines, LSD, mescaline, or psilocybin 7 H   yes 18 mos./$2,000 fine 10 yrs.
Production of barbituates or anabolic steroids 7 H   yes 1 yr./$2,000 fine 3 yrs.

Courtesy of www.defencelaw.com, website of Toronto criminal lawyer Ron Jourard. Telephone: (416) 398-6685; toll free (Canada and U.S.) 1-888-257-0002; email: jourard@defencelaw.com.

Return to Penalty Chart index or defencelaw.com home page.