Drug Trafficking & Possession Defense Lawyers in Edmonton

Drug offences are covered in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Drug law is a complex area often involving informants, search warrants, and expert analysis and testimony.  Due to the recent enactment of Bill C-10, penalties for drugs offences have changed and many offences are now subject to mandatory minimum sentences.  In the CDSA offences and penalties differ according to what “Schedule” the particular drug is found under.  The most common drugs found within each schedule are listed below.

Schedule I Substances Include:

Opium poppy, its preparations, derivatives and salts, including: Opium, codeine, morphine, thebaine, acetorphine, benzylmorphine, codoximine, etc.

Coca, its preparations, derivatives and salts, including:Coca leaves, cocaine, ecgonine

Methamphetamine, it’s salts, derivatives, isomers and analogues and salts of isomers & analogues

Amphetamines, their salts, derivatives, isomers and analogues and salts of isomers & analogues

The following and their intermediates, derivatives, salts and salts of derivatives: Phenylpiperidines, phenazepines, amidones, methadols, phenalkozams, thiambutenes, moramides, morphinans, benzazocines, phencyclidine, piritramide, fentanyls, and tilidin*

 

Schedule II Substances Include:

Cannabis, its preparations, derivatives and similar synthetic preparations, including: Cannabis resin, cannabis (marijuana), cannabidiol, nabilone, pyrahexyl, tetrahydrocannabinol But NOT including: non-viable cannabis seed, with the exception of its derivatives; mature cannabis stalks that do not include leves, flowers, seeds or branches and fibre derived from such stalks.*

 

Schedule III Substances Include:

Amphetamines, their salts, derivatives, isomers and analogues and salts of the derivatives, isomers, and analogues as listed, but NOT including methamphetamine.

The following substances and any salt thereof: Methylphenidate; methaqualone; mecloqualone; lysergic acid diethlamide (LSD); N,N-Diethyltryptamine (DET); N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT); N-Methyl-3-piperidyl benzilate; Harmaline; Harmalol; Psilocin; Psilocybin; N-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) ethylamine (PCE); 1-[1-(2-Thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine; Rolicyclidine; mescaline; 4-methylaminorex; cathinone; fenetylline; 2-methylamino-1-phenyl-1-propanone; 1–[1–(Phenylmethyl)cyclohexyl] piperidine; 1–[1–(4–Methylphenyl)cyclohexyl] piperidine; 4–bromo–2,5–dimethoxybenzeneethanamine; Flunitrazepam; 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (GHB); Aminorex; Etryptamine; Lefetamine; Mesocarb; Zipeprol; Amineptine; Benzylpiperazine; Trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine [TFMPP]*

 

Schedule IV Substances Include:

The following substances, their salts and derivates: Barbituates, thiobarbituates, chlorophentermine, diethylpropion, phendiemtrazine, phenmetrazine, pipradol, phentermine, butorphanol, nalbuphine, gluethimide, clotiazepam, ethchlorvynol, ethinamate, mazindol, meprobamate, methyprylon, benzodiazepines (but not including clozapine, flunitrazepam, or olanzapine), Catha edulis forsk, fencamfamin, fenproporex, mefenorex, anabolic steroids, zeranol, zolpidem, 1 pemoline, and pyrovalerone.*

*For a complete listing of all included and excluded substances, please see the CDSA at http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-38.8/FullText.html

SIMPLE POSSESSION S. 4(1) CDSA

Simple possession is an offence that deals with possessing a substance listed in Schedule I, II, or III.  For marijuana or cannabis resin, s. 4(1) applies if the amount of marijuana is 30 g or less or the amount of resin is 1 g or less.  Simple possession can be proven when the accused had knowledge and control of the drug.

If you are found in possession of a low-quantity of a drug (i.e. less than 8 g of marijuana) and it is your first offence, you may qualify for the Alternative Measures Program (AMP).  If you successfully participate in AMP, usually by completing some community service hours or attending drug treatment or counseling sessions, the charges against you will be withdrawn and you will not receive a criminal record.

If you are found guilty of s. 4(1) CDSA charge the Crown may have the option of choosing to proceed by summary or indictment.  Their choice determines what the maximum penalties you can face are.

Simple Possession s. 4(1)
	Crown Election
	Summary Maximum Penalties		Indictment Maximum Penalties
	First Offence	Subsequent Offences
Schedule I Substance	$1000 fine, 6 mos prison or both	$2000 fine, 1 yr prison or both	7 yrs prison
Schedule IIsubstances other than cannabis	$1000 fine, 6 mos prison or both	$2000 fine, 1 yr prison or both	5 yrs less a day prison
Cannabis resin – 1 g or less OR Cannabis marijuana – 30 g or less	Maximum fine of $1000, 6 mos  prison, or both for first or subsequent offences		Not applicable
Schedule III Substance	$1000 fine, 6 mos prison or both	$2000 fine, 1 yr prison or both	3 yrs prison

TRAFFICKING S. 5(1) CDSA

Trafficking is the delivery of a drug from one person to another.  Drug trafficking does not have to be done for the purpose of making money and the Crown does not have to prove that the accused completed the delivery for the purpose of promoting the drug.

Accused persons in the following situations have all been found guilty of Drug Trafficking s. 5(2):

• Giving drugs to a friend to hold onto for safe-keeping
• Introducing a seller to a buyer and assisting in negotiating price and giving payment
• Offering to sell drugs to an undercover police officer
• Offering to traffic in a narcotic to a person who will take the offer as genuine, even if the accused didn’t intent to carry through with the offer
• Offering to sell drugs to a person with the intention of taking their money and not delivering the drugs
• Selling a substance as a drug, regardless of whether it was or not
• Agreeing to buy drugs from another person for the purpose of resale

Maximum penalties for a charge under s. 5(1) is the same as the penalties under s. 5(2).  Please see below for details.

POSSESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAFFICKING S. 5(2) CDSA

Generally, this offence is made out when someone possesses a drug with the intention of making the drug available to others, even if they have purchased the drugs together. The offence requires proof that the accused had knowledge of the drugs or was willfully blind as to their presence.

Accused persons have been found guilty under s. 5(2) CDSA in the following situations:

• A husband transporting drugs to his wife
• Assisting a narcotics trafficker in hiding drugs from the police in the accused’s apartment
• Lending money to someone else to buy and sell drugs and expecting profit in return
• Participating in a compassion club

Trafficking (s. 5(1))  and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (s. 5(2))
	Crown Election
	Summary Maximum Penalties	Indictment Maximum Penalties
Schedule I or II Substance	N/A	Imprisonment for life
Cannabis not more than 3 kg ORCannabis resin not more than 3 kg	N/A	5 yrs less a day prison
Schedule III Substance	18 mos prison	10 yrs prison
Schedule IV Substance	1 yr prison	3 yrs prison

PRODUCTION OF SUBSTANCE S. 7(1) CDSA

Production is defined as manufacture and cultivation.  It is prohibited for all substances in Schedules I-IV, unless otherwise authorized by legislation.  Cultivation requires ongoing working in helping the plants to grow, but does not stop if the plants are at a stage where they don’t require attention, in an environment that the person created.  It starts when working with seeds and continues until the plants reach maturity

Due to the recent passing of Bill C-10, several changes have occurred in the sentencing of offences under s. 7(1).  The new bill has mandatory minimum sentences for this offence.  The result is that a judge is required, by law, to place your sentence within a specified range.

If ANY of the following aggravating factors are proven, the mandatory minimum sentence will increase:

• The production used real property that belongs to a third party
• The production constituted a potential security, health or safety risk to persons under the age of 18 years who were in the location where the offence was committed or in the immediate area
• The production constituted a potential public safety hazard in a residential area OR
• The person set or placed a trap, device or other thing that is likely to cause death or bodily harm to another person in the area where the offence was committed or in the immediate area, or permitted such a trap, device or thing to remain or be placed in that area or location

Production of a Substance s. 7(1) CDSA
	IndictmentSentencing Range	Indictment Sentencing Range with Aggravating Factor(s)
Schedule I Substances	2 yrs – life imprisonment	3 yrs – life imprisonment
Schedule II Substances other than marijuana for the purpose of trafficking	1 yr – life imprisonment	18 mos – life imprisonment
Cannabis produced for the purposes of trafficking   5 < 201 plants 200 < 501 plants > 500 plants	6 mos – 14 yrs prison 1 yr – 14 yrs prison 2 yrs – 14 yrs prison	9 mos – 14 yrs prison 18 mos – 14 yrs prison 3 yrs – 14 yrs prison
	Summary Maximum Penalties	Indictable Maximum Penalties
Schedule III Substances	18 mos prison	3 yrs prison
Schedule IV Substances	1 yr prison	3 yrs prison

Drug offenses like trafficking and possession can result in serious penalties, fines, and considerable sentencing if you are proven guilty. Hiring a criminal defense lawyer with experience in handling illegal substance charges is crucial to obtaining successful results.  At Pringle Law, we have years of experience and positive results defending clients who have been arrested and charged with drug trafficking and possession. If you or a family member are facing a possible criminal conviction for charges related to drug possession or trafficking, contact our Edmonton office today and speak with a lawyer about your case.