What Are The Potential Penalties For Trafficking?
For Schedule I and II substances, there is maximum punishment of life imprisonment. There are also mandatory minimums if any of the following factors existed:
- the person committed the offence for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a criminal organization;
- the person used or threatened to use violence in committing the offence;
- the person carried, used or threatened to use a weapon in committing the offence;
- the person was convicted of a designated substance offence, or had served a term of imprisonment for a designated substance offence, within the previous 10 years;
- the person committed the offence in or near a school, on or near school grounds or in or near any other public place usually frequented by persons under the age of 18 years;
- the person committed the offence in a prison or on its grounds; or
- the person used the services of a person under the age of 18 years, or involved such a person, in committing the offence.
For Schedule III or V Substances, the maximum punishment is 18 months imprisonment if the Crown proceeds by summary conviction, or 10 years if the Crown proceeds by indictment.
For Schedule IV Substances, the maximum punishment is one year imprisonment if the Crown proceeds by summary conviction, or 3 years if the Crown proceeds by indictment.
