Maximum Sentence
Life imprisonment (Schedule I/II) / 10 years (Schedule III)
Classification: Indictable
🍁 Immigration Impact
Drug trafficking is serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1) for Schedule I/II substances (life maximum) and Schedule III (10-year maximum). Deemed rehabilitation is generally NOT available for trafficking offences. Criminal rehabilitation application is the only pathway. Cannabis trafficking remains illegal despite legalization of possession.
Legal Text, CDSA s. CDSA-5
No person shall traffic in a substance included in Schedule I, II, III, IV or V of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, or in any substance represented or held out to be such a substance. Punishment: Schedule I or II — life imprisonment. Schedule III — indictable: 10 years. Schedule IV — indictable: 3 years. Schedule V — summary: 1 year.
Amendment History (1)
1996, c. 19, s. 5
Related Sections
CDSA-4Possession of SubstanceHybridCDSA-6Importing and ExportingIndictableCDSA-7Production of SubstanceIndictable
Official Source: Justice Canada: CDSA s. 5 (authoritative, may differ from this display)
Explore Your Admissibility
See how this offence maps to Canadian law and what it means for entry.