View source for Drug Trafficking, Schedule II (Sentencing)

[[fr:Trafic de drogue, annexe II (peine)]]
{{Currency2|January|2023}}
{{LevelZero}}{{HeaderDrugs}}
{{OffenceBox 
|OffenceTitle=Drug Trafficking, Schedule II
|OffencePage=Drug Trafficking, Schedule II 
|Section=5(1), (2)
|Act={{OBCDSA}} 
|CrownElection={{OBIndictableElection}}(>1g Res. or 30g Mj)<br> {{OBHybridElection}} (<1g Res. or 30g Mj) 
|Jurisdiction={{OBJurisdictionAll}}<!-- {{OBJurisdictionExclusive}} {{OBJurisdictionAbsolute}} --> 
|Bail= {{OBBailVar}} 
|SummaryDisp= {{OBDispAll}} 
|SummaryMin= {{OBMinNone}} 
|SummaryMax= {{OBTime|$1,000 fine or 6 months}} 
|IndictableDisp={{OBDisp14orLifeVar}}  
|IndictableMin= {{OBMinNone}}  
|IndictableMax= {{OBTime|5 years less a day}} (<3kg)<br> {{OBMaxLife}} (>3kg) 
}}

==Overview==
''See [[Drug Trafficking (Offence)]]''

==Legislation==
{{quotation2|
; Trafficking in substance
5 (1) No person shall traffic in a substance included in Schedule I {{AnnSecC|S-I}}, II {{AnnSecC|S-II}}, III {{AnnSecC|S-III}}, IV {{AnnSecC|S-IV}} or V {{AnnSecC|S-V}} or in any substance represented or held out by that person to be such a substance.

; Possession for purpose of trafficking
(2) No person shall, for the purpose of trafficking, possess a substance included in Schedule I {{AnnSecC|S-I}}, II {{AnnSecC|S-II}}, III {{AnnSecC|S-III}}, IV {{AnnSecC|S-IV}} or V {{AnnSecC|S-V}}.

; Punishment
(3) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) {{AnnSecC|5(1)}} or (2) {{AnnSecC|5(2)}}
:(a) if the subject matter of the offence is a substance included in Schedule I [opiates and related] or II {{AnnSecC|S-II}}, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life;
:(a.1) [Repealed, {{LegHistory10s|2018, c. 16}}, s. 196]
{{removed|(4)}}
; Interpretation
(5) For the purposes of applying subsection (3) {{AnnSecC|5(3)}} in respect of an offence under subsection (1) {{AnnSecC|5(1)}}, a reference to a substance included in Schedule I {{AnnSecC|S-I}}, II {{AnnSecC|S-II}}, III {{AnnSecC|S-III}}, IV {{AnnSecC|S-IV}} or V {{AnnSecC|S-V}} includes a reference to any substance represented or held out to be a substance included in that Schedule.
<br>
...<br>
{{LegHistory90s|1996, c. 19}}, s. 5;
{{LegHistory10s|2012, c. 1}}, s. 39;
{{LegHistory10s|2017, c. 7}}, s. 3;
{{LegHistory10s|2018, c. 16}}, s. 196;
{{LegHistory20s|2022, c. 15}}, s. 15.
|{{CDSASec2|5}}
|{{NoteUpCDSA|5|1|2|3|5}}
}}

Schedule VII sets cannabis resin and cannabis marijuana at 3kg.

Schedule VIII sets the cannabis resin at 1 g and cannabis marijuana at 30 g.

==Sentencing Principles and Ranges==
{{seealsoSentencingDrugs}}

; Maximum Penalties
{{MaxPenaltyIndictment|s. 5(3)(a) [exceeding 3 kg] |'''{{MaxLife}}'''}}

{{MaxPenaltyIndictment|s. 5(3)(a.1)[not exceeding 3 kg]|'''{{Max5Years}}'''}}
<!--
; Minimum Penalties
{{MinPenalty|s. 5(3)(a) or (a.1)|'''1 year or 2 years incarceration'''}}

The minimum penalties under s. 5(3)(a)(i)(D) has been found to be unconstitutional for violating s. 12 of the Charter.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Hofer|gsssw|2016 BCSC 1442 (CanLII)|BCJ No 1656}}{{perBCSC|Warren J}}
</ref>
-->
; Available Dispositions
{{AllDispositionsAvailable|s. 5(3)(a)}}

<!--
{{AllDispositionsAvailable|s. 5(3)(a.1) [not exceeding 3 kg]}}
-->
; Consecutive Sentences
{{NoConsecutive}}

===Principles===
Offenders found trafficking in a Schedule II controlled substance (e.g. Cannabinoids) in an amount greater than 3kg are liable for an indictable offence with a maximum penalty of life in jail. Where the amount is equal or less than 3kg, the offender is liable for an indictable offence with a maximum penalty of 5 years jail.

The primary sentencing principles for these offences involving soft drugs are protection of the public through denunciation and deterrence.
<ref> 
{{CanLIIRP|Butt|fsxdz|2007 NLTD 57 (CanLII)| Nfld. & PEIR 98 (NLSC)}}{{perNLSC|LeBlanc J}}<br>
{{CanLIIRx|Murray|frn0m|2012 ABPC 123 (CanLII)}}{{perABPC|Semenuk J}}{{atL|frn0m|92}}
</ref>

The courts do recognize a distinction between hard and soft drugs, where soft drugs are treated less seriously from hard drugs.

Trafficking in cannabis is typically a sentence of incarceration.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Butt and Gallant|2dx4l|1993 CanLII 7743 (NL CA)| Nfld. & PEIR 92 (NLCA)}}{{perNLCA|Marshall JA}}</ref>
There has been a benchmark set by some courts of 6 months.<ref>
{{CanLIIR-N|McKie| (1981), 29 Nfld. & PEIR 181 (P.E.I.C.A.)}}<br>
</ref>

The upper range of marijuana trafficking is typically 12 months jail and above.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Chen|1r0cn|2007 ONCA 230 (CanLII)|73 WCB (2d) 287}}{{TheCourtONCA}} (18 months jail)<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Nguyen|1r05q|2007 ONCA 222 (CanLII)|227 CCC (6th) 356 (CA)}}{{TheCourtONCA}} (3:0) (15 months)<br>
</ref>

The mid range of sentence is around 12 months on a conditional sentence order.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Imoro|fkf0h|2011 ONSC 1445 (CanLII)|[2011] OJ No 996}}{{perONSC|Spies J}} <br>
{{CanLIIRP|Nagtzaam|272fc|2009 ONCJ 596 (CanLII)|[2009] OJ No 5409 (O.C.J.)}}{{perONCJ|Hearn J}}<br>
</ref>
Though will be actual jail in certain cases.<ref>
{{CanLIIR-N|Do|, [2002] OJ No 5491 (O.C.J.)}}<br>
</ref>

The lower end of the range is around 6 months jail, served either conditionally or on a straight-time basis.<ref>
{{CanLIIR-N|Schweitzer|, [2000] OJ No 5228 (O.C.J.)}} (5 months jail)<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|Stover|, [2004] OJ No 3736 (O.C.J.)}} ({{CSOM|4}})<br>
</ref>

At the very lowest end there will be the rare granting of suspended sentences, fines, or discharges.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Small|1fn7b|2001 BCCA 91 (CanLII)|152 CCC (3d) 412}}{{perBCCA|Newbury JA}} (3:0)<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Lucas|5lt6|2002 BCPC 268 (CanLII)|[2002] BCJ No 1631 (Prov. Ct.)}}{{perBCPC|Higinbotham J}}<br>
</ref>
This usually involves exceptional circumstances such as the offenders position in the community or a benevolent intent behind the act.

Alberta does not have a starting point for sentence on soft drugs. However, the norm is for a sentence of incarceration regardless of prior record with a range between 6 and 12 months.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Murray|frn0m|2012 ABPC 123 (CanLII)}}{{perABPC|Semenuk J}}{{atL|frn0m|93}}</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Ancillary Sentencing Orders==
{{seealso|Ancillary Orders}}

; Offence-specific Orders
<!--
* [[DNA Orders]] -- s.5(3)(a.1) is not a designated offence -->

{{AOrderHeader}}
| [[Weapons Prohibition Orders]]  || s. 5 CDSA ||
* {{Section109|BorC|s. 5}}
{{AOrderEnd}}

Under s. 487.04, convictions for trafficking of Schedule II drugs, unlike the other schedules, is ''not'' eligible for a secondary designated DNA Order.

'''Circumstance-specific Forfeiture Orders'''
{{GeneralForfeitureOrders}}

'''Other Sentencing Orders'''
{{GeneralSentencingOrders}}

==See Also==
* [[Offences by Penalty]]
* [[CDSA Schedules]]
* [[Drug Trafficking, Schedule I (Sentencing)]]: Maximum penalty of life
* [[Drug Trafficking, Schedule III (Sentencing)]]: Maximum penalty of 10 years
* [[Drug Trafficking, Schedule IV (Sentencing)]]: Maximum penalty of 3 years


{{OffencesNavBar/Drugs}}