Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

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 Drug Act and establishes eight Schedules of controlled substances and two Classes of . 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 1990's were a turbulent time for developments on the drug policy front, but ended on a disappointing note for those expecting significant reform. While the decade began with a fledgling Canadian Drug Strategy that appeared to be distancing itself from the American War on Drugs, by May 1997 the passage and proclamation of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act [CDSA] was complete (Boyd 1991; Erickson 1997; Mitchell 1991)."

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.

"A complete list of drugs scheduled in Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act can be found here. This list is what is reflected below."

On March 12, 2012, controversial Bill C-10, the Safe Streets and Communities Act was passed into law. Amphetamines and their isomers, derivatives, and analogues, including MDA and MDMA, as well as potential "date rape drugs" flunitrazepam and GHB were rescheduled from Schedule III to Schedule l. Dealers of Schedule I drugs now face mandatory minimum sentencing of 1 year imprisonment. Also, the rescheduling imposes harsher punishment for possession. For example; "Possession of substance

4 (1) Except as authorized under the regulations, no person shall possess a substance included in Schedule I, II or III.

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