The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act came into force on May 14, 1997. You can see the text of the Act and the accompanying regulations by clicking here.  To learn about criminal records, click here.

The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act makes it a criminal offence to possess, traffic, produce, import or export hundreds of substances. The chart below lists some of the maximum penalties associated with the better known substances.
 
 

Substance

Offence and maximum possible penalty under Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

 

	Possession	Importing or exporting, or possession for importing or exporting	Trafficking or possession for the purpose of trafficking	Producing
Cannabis	For < or = 30g. of cannabis or 1 g. of resin: $1000, six months or both (for first and any subsequent offence).  For amounts > 30g. of cannabis or > 1 g. of resin, if the Crown decides to prosecute the offence as a summary conviction offence: $1000, six months or both (for first offence); $2000, 1 year, or both (subsequent offences). If the Crown decides to prosecute as an indictable offence: 5 years less a day (Remember that the Crown can prosecute by indictment only if amount of cannabis is > 30g. or amount of resin > 1g.)	Life imprisonment	< or = 3 kg. of cannabis or cannabis resin -- 5 years less a day  > 3 kg. -- life imprisonment	Cultivation: 7 years
Cocaine, heroin	If the Crown decides to prosecute the offence as a summary conviction offence: $1000, six months or both (for first offence); $2000, 1 year, or both (subsequent offences). If the Crown decides to prosecute as an indictable offence: 7 years	Life imprisonment	Life imprisonment	Life imprisonment