Merv Nidesh, KC & Linh Pham – Saskatchewan's Criminal Defence Team
Criminal Lawyers in Saskatchewan.
Drug Offences
In Canada, criminal drug charges are set out in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. They can involve drugs such as:
- Marijuana
- MDMA (Ecstasy, Molly)
- Powder Cocaine
- Crack Cocaine
- Heroin
- Methamphetamine (Meth)
- Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB)
- Hallucinogens (PCP, LSD, Ketamine, Mushrooms) and
- Steroids
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The most common drug charges are:
- Simple Possession
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking
- Trafficking
- Production
- Importation and
- Exportation
While the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act is the main piece of legislation governing this area of law, the possession of drugs is also controlled by a number of acts and regulations such as the Food and Drug Act, the Narcotic Control Regulations and the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations.
Potential Consequences
If you are convicted of a drug offence, the consequences can be severe. Depending on the offence, the type of drug and the quantity, sentences can range from a fine to life in prison. If you are not a Canadian citizen, you could also face deportation.
Many drug offences attract a significant period of penitentiary jail time. This is particularly true in the case of a subsequent offence or if your drug charges are accompanied by weapons or proceeds of crime charges.
A drug conviction can also have lasting effects even after your sentence is served. Having even a minor drug offence on your criminal record can lead to difficulty crossing international borders and can impact future employment.
Understanding Your Case
Drug investigations vary greatly in size and scope. They can be very brief (as in the case of a traffic stop or a quick undercover “buy and bust”) or can span several months or years. Sometimes a “small” drug case will actually be a spin-off case from a much larger investigation.
Regardless of the size of the case, drug investigations can involve the use of undercover police officers, confidential informants, police agents, surveillance, search warrants, production orders, wiretap authorizations and other special investigatory tactics. In many cases, the police are also performing extensive searches of cell phones and other personal electronics both before and after arrest.
Drug investigations can be conducted by local police, the RCMP or a special “Integrated Drug Unit” that is designed specifically to investigate drugs and/or organized crime.
The first step in defending any drug case is to get a clear picture of the size and scope of what you are facing. If you have been charged with a drug offence, you are entitled to review ALL of the evidence relevant to your case and obtain legal advice before making any decisions on how to proceed.
Defending a Drug Case
Drug work is a specialized area of law that requires a high level of expertise. All of the investigatory tactics discussed above can give rise to special legal issues that may be relevant to your case. Selecting a lawyer with an intimate and up to date knowledge of search and seizure law is critical.
The vast majority of drug cases will involve applications for the exclusion of evidence under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. These applications can involve challenging the legality of searches and quashing judicial orders (such as search warrants, production orders or wiretap authorizations). They can also involve applying to have post-arrest statements (i.e. confessions) tossed out.
Our Drug Offences Attorneys
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Other Practice Areas
How We Can Help
Properly defending DUIs and other criminal driving cases requires expertise and experience. The offences themselves are highly technical and there is a massive body of case law that applies specifically to this area. Choosing a lawyer with extensive and up to date knowledge of criminal driving law and the relevant Charter litigation is key.
Every case requires a careful review to identify all of the relevant legal issues and determine the possible defences. You are entitled to review all of the Crown’s case against you and obtain legal advice before deciding whether or not to plead guilty. We understand that a criminal charge and the loss of your license is tremendously difficult to deal with. We will meet with you as quickly as possible to help you assess the strength and weaknesses of your case so that you can make the best decision.
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