14 years (indictable) / up to 18 months (summary, to a minor)
Cannabis distribution is a hybrid offence with a 14-year maximum on indictment, and distribution to a minor carries an elevated penalty. Under IRPA s.36(3)(a) a hybrid offence is deemed indictable, and a 14-year maximum meets serious criminality under s.36(1)(a). Deemed rehabilitation is generally unavailable for serious criminality, so criminal rehabilitation is the usual pathway.
9 (1) Unless authorized under this Act, it is prohibited (a) for an individual who is 18 years of age or older (i) to distribute cannabis of one or more classes of cannabis the total amount of which is equivalent, as determined in accordance with Schedule 3, to more than 30 g of dried cannabis, (ii) to distribute cannabis to an individual who is under 18 years of age, (iii) to distribute cannabis to an organization, or (iv) to distribute cannabis that they know is illicit cannabis; (b) for a young person (i) to distribute cannabis of one or more classes of cannabis the total amount of which is equivalent, as determined in accordance with Schedule 3, to more than 5 g of dried cannabis, or (ii) to distribute cannabis to an organization; (c) for an individual (i) to distribute one or more cannabis plants that are budding or flowering, or (ii) to distribute more than four cannabis plants that are not budding or flowering; or (d) for an organization to distribute cannabis. (2) Unless authorized under this Act, it is prohibited to possess cannabis for the purpose of distributing it contrary to subsection (1). (5) Subject to section 51, every person that contravenes subsection (1) or (2) (a) is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable (i) in the case of an individual who is 18 years of age or older, to imprisonment for a term of not more than 14 years, (ii) in the case of a young person, to a youth sentence under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, or (iii) in the case of an organization, to a fine in an amount that is in the discretion of the court; or (b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and is liable (i) in the case of an individual who is 18 years of age or older who contravenes any of subparagraphs (1)(a)(i), (iii) and (iv) and (c)(i) and (ii), or subsection (2) other than by possessing cannabis for the purpose of distributing it contrary to subparagraph (1)(a)(ii), 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 is 18 years of age or older who contravenes subparagraph (1)(a)(ii), or subsection (2) if the possession was for the purpose of distributing the cannabis contrary to subparagraph (1)(a)(ii), to a fine of not more than $15,000 or imprisonment for a term of not more than 18 months, or to both, (iii) in the case of a young person, to a youth sentence under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, or (iv) in the case of an organization, to a fine of not more than $100,000.