Howdy werdizzle-ga,
A reminder of the "Important Disclaimer: Answers and comments provided on
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for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal,
investment, accounting, or other professional advice."
The pertinent law is the "Controlled Drugs and Substances Act" of 1996,
here from the Canada Department of Justice web site.
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-38.8/37301.html
"... Punishment ...
(1) where the subject-matter of the offence is a substance included in
Schedule II [which includes Cannabis]
(a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding five years less a day; or
(b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable
(i) for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or
to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both ..."
If found guilty of trafficking, things could be lots worse.
"... Possession for purpose of trafficking
(2) No person shall, for the purpose of trafficking, possess a substance
included in Schedule I, II, III or IV.
Punishment
(3) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2)
(a) subject to subsection (4), where the subject-matter of the offence is
a substance included in Schedule I or II, is guilty of an indictable offence
and liable to imprisonment for life ..."
Here are some "real world" numbers, at least through the year 2000, courtesy
of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University College of
the Fraser Valley (Abbotsford, B.C.) and the International Centre for
Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy (Vancouver, B.C.).
The article is titled "MARIHUANA TRAFFICKING INCIDENTS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA -
AN EMPIRICAL SURVEY (1997-2000)" and was put together by Yvon Dandurand,
Darryl Plecas, Vivienne Chin and Tim Segger in May 2002.
http://www.icclr.law.ubc.ca/Publications/Reports/trafficking.pdf
"The average prison sentence imposed in trafficking cases was 2.5 months,
and the average probation term was 11.6 months. The average length of the
conditional prison sentences imposed, as the most serious penalty imposed
in 15% of the cases of marihuana trafficking, was 4.9 months ... The maximum
length of a prison term imposed on an offender was 36 months. The maximum
length of the conditional prison sentences imposed in any of the cases was
36 months. The longest period of probation imposed was 36 months. Finally,
although the average fine imposed in marihuana trafficking cases was $1,044,
the highest fine imposed was $17,500."
You will want to examine both the documents referenced above for details.
Obviously, if one were to be arrested for any such charge, they would want
to absolutely consult an attorney.
If you need any clarification, please feel free to ask.
Search strategy:
Google search on: "British Columbia" marijuana OR cannabis
://www.google.com/search?q=%22British+Columbia%22+marijuana+OR+cannabis
Google search on: "Controlled Drugs and Substances Act" Canada
://www.google.com/search?q=%22Controlled+Drugs+and+Substances+Act%22+Canada
Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher |
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