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Vancouver Drug Offence Lawyer

The production, distribution and use of drugs in Canada are heavily regulated by the federal government under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), which defines hundreds of drugs as “controlled substances” and criminalizes the manufacture or production, possession, and sale or distribution of those substances except as authorized under the regulations to the CDSA.

The individual drugs defined as controlled substances are listed in six separate schedules to the CDSA, Schedules I, II, III, IV, V, and VI.

  • Schedule I includes cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine (crystal meth), ecstasy, ketamine, GHB, and oxycodone (oxycontin)
  • Schedule II includes marijuana and various cannabinoids.
  • Schedule III includes anabolic steroids, psilocin (psychedelic or magic mushrooms), and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD or acid).
  • Schedule IV includes barbiturates such as diazepam (valium) and lorazepam (Ativan).

While offenses under the CDSA are not technically “criminal offenses” since they are not found in the Criminal Code, they are as serious as criminal offenses; some CDSA offenses are punishable by sentences of up to life imprisonment. Further, a conviction under the CDSA even for what is generally considered to be a relatively minor offense – possession of marijuana for personal use – can prove to be a significant impediment to travel to the United States and a barrier to finding employment in certain fields. For these reasons, retaining a Vancouver criminal defense lawyer any time you are charged under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act or under investigation for drug offenses is critical.


Name: Francis
Review: “Nick has been my lawyer for the last two years during a very drawn out and overdue court case. He knew that this was eating away at me and he tolerated the many phone calls and emails, handled with the utmost professionalism and compassion. He knew what I was going through and knew I needed help and he represented me flawlessly. He knew what needed to be done and how to do it, and he coached me perfectly and the outcome was better than expected. I honestly cannot thank or recommend him enough. If you ever find yourself in criminal trouble, he’s the guy you call.”
Rating: 5/5 stars

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