The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act () is Canada's federal drug control statute. Passed in 1996 under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's government, it repeals the Narcotic Control Act and Parts III and IV of the Food and Drugs Act, and establishes eight Schedules of controlled substances and two Classes of precursors. It provides that "The Governor in Council may, by order, amend any of Schedules I to VIII by adding to them or deleting from them any item or portion of an item, where the Governor in Council deems the amendment to be necessary in the public interest."
The Act serves as the implementing legislation for the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
Amendments to the act In November 2007, the Justice Minister Rob Nicholson introduced Bill C-26, which proposed a number of mandatory minimum penalties imposed on those who commit drug offences.
On 27 February 2009, Bill C-15, a re-introduction of C-26 received first reading in the second session of the 40th Parliament of Canada. On 9 June 2009, the House of Commons passed Bill C-15 and it went to the Senate for study and approval. On 14 December 2009, the Senate passed Bill C-15, with some amendments, for approval by the House of Commons. When the Canadian Parliament dissolved in a prorogation on 31 January 2010, Bill C-15, along with all unpassed legislation then tabled before the Commons, fell.
Early in 2012, the next parliament passed the Safe Streets and Communities Act, which received Royal Assent in March. The final legislation sees changes made to four areas of the Act, outlining mandatory minimum sentences for offences relating to the trafficking and production of various controlled substances. Mandatory minimum sentencing does not apply to simple possession and trafficking in smaller amounts.
On 17 October 2018, the federal Cannabis Act came into effect, legalizing the possession, sale and production of cannabis. Everyone with a criminal record for cannabis possession became eligible to apply for a pardon on this date.
List of drugs
The list below reflects the list of drugs scheduled in Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Schedule I Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum), its preparations, derivatives, alkaloids and salts, including: Opium Codeine (methylmorphine) Morphine (7,8-didehydro-4,5-epoxy-17-methylmorphinan-3,6-diol) Thebaine (paramorphine)and the salts, derivatives and salts of derivatives of the substances set out in subitems (1) to (4), including: Acetorphine (acetyletorphine) Acetyldihydrocodeine (4,5-epoxy-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-ol acetate) Benzylmorphine (7,8-didehydro-4,5-epoxy-17-methyl-3-(phenylmethoxy) morphinan-6-ol) Codoxime (dihydrocodeinone O-(carboxymethyl) oxime) Desomorphine (dihydrodeoxymorphine) Diacetylmorphine (heroin) Dihydrocodeine (4,5-epoxy-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-ol) Dihydromorphine (4,5-epoxy-17-methylmorphinan-3,6-diol) Ethylmorphine (7,8-didehydro-4,5-epoxy-3-ethoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-ol) Etorphine (tetrahydro-7α-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-butyl)-6,14-endo-ethenooripavine) Hydrocodone (dihydrocodeinone) Hydromorphinol (dihydro-14-hydroxymorphine) Hydromorphone (dihydromorphinone) Methyldesorphine (Δ6-deoxy-6-methylmorphine) Methyldihydromorphine (dihydro-6-methylmorphine) Metopon (dihydromethylmorphinone) Morphine-N-oxide (morphine oxide) Myrophine (benzylmorphine myristate) Nalorphine (N-allylnormorphine) Nicocodine (6-nicotinylcodeine) Nicomorphine (dinicotinylmorphine) Norcodeine (N-desmethylcodeine) Normorphine (N-desmethylmorphine) Oxycodone (dihydrohydroxycodeinone) Oxymorphone (dihydrohydroxymorphinone) Pholcodine (3-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]morphine) Thebacon (acetyldihydrocodeinone)but not including:
Apomorphine (5,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-6-methyl-4H-dibenzo[de,g]quinoline-10,11-diol) and its salts Cyprenorphine (N-(cyclopropylmethyl)-6,7,8,14-tetrahydro-7α-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-6,14-endo-ethenonororipavine) and its salts Nalmefene (17-(cyclopropylmethyl)-4,5α-epoxy-6-methylenemorphinan-3,14-diol) and its salts Naloxone (4,5α-epoxy-3,14-dihydroxy-17-(2-propenyl)morphinan-6-one) and its salts Naltrexone (17-(cyclopropylmethyl)-4,5α-epoxy-3,14-dihydroxymorphinan-6-one) and its salts Methylnaltrexone (17-(cyclopropylmethyl)-4,5α-epoxy-3,14-dihydroxy-17-methyl-6-oxomorphinanium) and its salts Naloxegol (4,5α-epoxy-6α-(3,6,9,12,15,18,21-heptaoxadocos-1-yloxy)-17-(2-propenyl)morphinan-3,14-diol) and its salts Narcotine (6,7-dimethoxy-3-(5,6,7,8-tetra-hydro-4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3-dioxolos [4,5-g]isoquinolin-5-yl)-1(3H)-isobenzofuranone) and its salts Papaverine (1-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-6,7-dimethoxyisoquinoline) and its salts Poppy seed Coca (Erythroxylon), its preparations, derivatives, alkaloids and salts, including: Coca leaves Cocaine (benzoylmethylecgonine) Ecgonine (3-hydroxy-2-tropane carboxylic acid) but not including: 123l-ioflupane Phenylpiperidines, their intermediates, salts, derivatives and analogues and salts of intermediates, derivatives and analogues, including: Allylprodine (3-allyl-1-methyl-4-phenyl-4-piperidinol propionate) Alphameprodine (α-3-ethyl-1-methyl-4-phenyl-4-piperidinol propionate) Alphaprodine (α-1,3-dimethyl-4-phenyl-4-piperidinol propionate) Anileridine (ethyl 1-[2-(p-aminophenyl)ethyl]-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) Betameprodine (β-3-ethyl-1-methyl-4-phenyl-4-piperidinol propionate) Betaprodine (β-1,3-dimethyl-4-phenyl-4-piperidinol propionate) Benzethidine (ethyl 1-(2-benzyloxyethyl)-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) Diphenoxylate (ethyl 1-(3-cyano-3,3-diphenylpropyl)-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) Difenoxin (1-(3-cyano-3,3-diphenylpropyl)-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) Etoxeridine (ethyl 1-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy) ethyl]-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) Furethidine (ethyl 1-(2-tetrahydrofurfury loxyethyl)-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) Hydroxypethidine (ethyl 4-(m-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) Ketobemidone (1-[4-(m-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methyl-4-piperidyl]-1-propanone) Methylphenylisonipecotonitrile (4-cyano-1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine) Morpheridine (ethyl 1-(2-morpholinoethyl)-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) Norpethidine (ethyl 4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) Pethidine (ethyl 1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) Phenoperidine (ethyl 1-(3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl)-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) Piminodine (ethyl 1-[3-(phenylamino)propyl]-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) Properidine (isopropyl 1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) Trimeperidine (1,2,5-trimethyl-4-phenyl-4-piperidinol propionate) Pethidine Intermediate C (1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate)but not including:
Carbamethidine (ethyl 1-(2-carbamylethyl)-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) and its salts Oxpheneridine (ethyl 1-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate) and its salts Phenazepines, their salts, derivatives and salts of derivatives including: Proheptazine (hexahydro-1,3-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1H-azepin-4-ol propionate)but not including:
Ethoheptazine (ethyl hexahydro-1-methyl-4-phenyl-azepine-4-carboxylate) and its salts Metethoheptazine (ethyl hexahydro-1,3-dimethyl-4-phenylazepine-4-carboxylate) and its salts Metheptazine () and its salts Amidones, their intermediates, salts, derivatives and salts of intermediates and derivatives including: Dimethylaminodiphenylbutanonitrile (4-cyano-2-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenylbutane) Dipipanone (4,4-diphenyl-6-piperidino-3-heptanone) Isomethadone (6-dimethylamino-5-methyl-4,4-diphenyl-3-hexanone) Methadone (6-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenyl-3-heptanone) Normethadone (6-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenyl-3-hexanone) Norpipanone (4,4-diphenyl-6-piperidino-3-hexanone) Phenadoxone (6-morpholino-4,4-diphenyl-3-heptanone) Methadols, their salts, derivatives and salts of derivatives including: Acetylmethadol (6-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenyl-3-heptanol acetate) Alphacetylmethadol (α-6-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenyl-3-heptanol acetate) Alphamethadol (α-6-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenyl-3-heptanol) Betacetylmethadol (β-6-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenyl-3-heptanol acetate) Betamethadol (β-6-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenyl-3-heptanol) Dimepheptanol (6-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenyl-3-heptanol) Noracymethadol (α-6-methylamino-4,4-diphenyl-3-heptanol acetate) Phenalkoxams, their salts, derivatives and salts of derivatives including: Dimenoxadol (dimethylaminoethyl 1-ethoxy-1,1-diphenylacetate) Dioxaphetyl butyrate (ethyl 2,2-diphenyl-4-morpholinobutyrate) Dextropropoxyphene ([S-(R*,S*)]-α-[2-(dimethylamino)-1-methylethyl]-α-phenylbenzeneethanol, propanoate ester) Thiambutenes, their salts, derivatives and salts of derivatives including: Diethylthiambutene (N,N-diethyl-1-methyl-3,3-di-2-thienylallylamine) Dimethylthiambutene (N,N,1-trimethyl-3,3-di-2-thienylallylamine) Ethylmethylthiambutene (N-ethyl-N,1-dimethyl-3,3-di-2-thienylallylamine) Moramides, their intermediates, salts, derivatives and salts of intermediates and derivatives including: Dextromoramide (d-1-(3-methyl-4-morpholino-2,2-diphenylbutyryl)pyrrolidine) Diphenylmorpholinoisovaleric acid (2-methyl-3-morpholino-1,1-diphenylpropionic acid) Levomoramide (l-1-(3-methyl-4-morpholino-2,2-diphenylbutyryl)pyrrolidine) Racemoramide (d,l-1-(3-methyl-4-morpholino-2,2-diphenylbutyryl) pyrrolidine) Morphinans, their salts, derivatives and salts of derivatives including: Buprenorphine (17-(cyclopropylmethyl)-α-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4,5-epoxy-18,19-dihydro-3-hydroxy-6-methoxy-α-methyl-6,14-ethenomorphinan-7-methanol) Drotebanol (6β,14-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethoxy-17-methylmorphinan) Levomethorphan (l-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan) Levorphanol (l-3-hydroxy-17-methylmorphinan) Levophenacylmorphan (l-3-hydroxy-17-phenacylmorphinan) Norlevorphanol (l-3-hydroxymorphinan) Phenomorphan (3-hydroxy-17-(2-phenylethyl)morphinan) Racemethorphan (d,1-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan) Racemorphan (d,l-3-hydroxy-N-methylmorphinan)but not including:
Dextromethorphan (d-1,2,3,9,10,10a-hexahydro-6-methoxy-11-methyl-4H-10,4a-iminoethano-phenanthren) and its salts Dextrorphan (d-1,2,3,9,10,10a-hexahydro-11-methyl-4H-10,4a-iminoethanophenanthren-6-ol) and its salts Levallorphan (l-11-allyl-1,2,3,9,10,10a-hexahydro-4H-10,4a-iminoethanophenanthren-6-ol) and its salts Levargorphan (l-11-propargyl-1,2,3,9,10,10a-hexahydro-4H-10,4a-iminoethanophenanthren-6-ol) and its salts Butorphanol (17-(cyclobutylmethyl)morphinan-3,14-diol) and its salts Nalbuphine (17-(cyclobutylmethyl)-4,5α-epoxymorphinan-3,6α, 14-triol) and its salts Benzazocines, their salts, derivatives and salts of derivatives including: Phenazocine (1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-6,11-dimethyl-3-phenethyl-2,6-methano-3-benzazocin-8-ol) Metazocine (1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-3,6,11-trimethyl-2,6-methano-3-benzazocin-8-ol) Pentazocine (1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-6,11-dimethyl-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-2,6-methano-3-benzazocin-8-ol)but not including:
Cyclazocine (1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-6,11-dimethyl-3-(cyclopropylmethyl)-2,6-methano-3-benzazocin-8-ol) and its salts Ampromides, their salts, derivatives and salts of derivatives including: Diampromide (N-[2-(methylphenethylamino)propyl] propionanilide) Phenampromide (N-(1-methyl-2-piperidino) ethyl) propionanilide) Propiram (N-(1-methyl-2-piperidinoethyl)-N-2-pyridylpropionamide) Benzimidazoles, their salts, derivatives and salts of derivatives including: Clonitazene (2-(p-chlorobenzyl)-1-diethylaminoethyl-5-nitrobenzimidazole) Etonitazene (2-(p-ethoxybenzyl)-1-diethylaminoethyl-5-nitrobenzimidazole) Bezitramide (1-(3-cyano-3,3-diphenylpropyl)-4-(2-oxo-3-propionyl-1-benzimidazolinyl)-piperidine) Phencyclidine (1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine), its salts, derivatives and analogues and salts of derivatives and analogues, including: Ketamine (2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(methylamino)cyclohexanone)