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Cannabis Act

s. 10 Cannabis Selling

Selling

  • Cannabis Act
  • Cannabis Act
Maximum sentence
14 years (indictable) / up to 18 months (summary, to a minor)
Classification
Hybrid

Last verified: June 2026 · Source: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca

The law says

Cannabis Act s. 10
Verify on justice.gc.ca(opens in a new tab)
  • (1)Unless authorized under this Act, it is prohibited to sell cannabis, or any substance represented or held out to be cannabis, to (a) an individual who is 18 years of age or older;
  • (b)an individual who is under 18 years of age; or
  • (c)an organization.
  • (2)Unless authorized under this Act, it is prohibited to possess cannabis for the purpose of selling it contrary to any of paragraphs (1)(a) to (c).
  • (3)It is not a defence to a charge arising out of the contravention of paragraph (1)(b) that the accused believed that the individual referred to in that paragraph was 18 years of age or older, unless the accused took reasonable steps to ascertain the individual’s age.
  • (4)It is not a defence to a charge arising out of the contravention of subsection (2) of possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling it contrary to paragraph (1)(b) that the accused believed that the individual referred to in that paragraph was 18 years of age or older, unless the accused took reasonable steps to ascertain the individual’s age.
  • (5)Subject to section 51, every person that contravenes any of paragraphs (1)(a) to (c) or subsection (2) (a) is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 14 years; or
  • (b)is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and is liable (i) in the case of an individual who contravenes paragraph (1)(a) or (c) — or subsection (2) other than by possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling it contrary to paragraph (1)(b) — to a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both, (ii) in the case of an individual who contravenes paragraph (1)(b) — or subsection (2) if the possession was for the purpose of selling contrary to paragraph (1)(b) — to a fine of not more than $15,000 or imprisonment for a term of not more than 18 months, or to both, or (iii) in the case of an organization, to a fine of not more than $100,000.
Amendment History (1)
  • 2018, c. 16, s. 10

Justice Laws is the authoritative version. If this copy and it ever differ, Justice Laws wins.

Immigration

Where this offence sits under IRPA

Selling cannabis, or anything passed off as cannabis, is hybrid. On indictment, the top sentence is 14 years, and selling to a minor is treated more severely. IRPA s.36(3)(a) treats it as indictable. A 14-year maximum is serious criminality under s.36(1)(a). Deemed rehabilitation does not apply to serious criminality. The route is a record suspension for a conviction in Canada (s.36(3)(b)), or an application to be found rehabilitated for one outside Canada (s.36(3)(c)).

This is how the law sorts the offence, not a reading of any one record. An officer decides each case.

IRPA sections involved

Guides on offences like this one

No guide cites this section directly. These guides cite related offences.