Whether you are charged with possession, trafficking, cultivating or any other kind of crime, if you are facing a drug offence charge, you will need a skilled and experienced lawyer to help you through it.
An Initial Consultation Is Always Free
If you are facing a drug charge, it will cost you nothing to consult with our lawyer about it. We can answer your questions and help you understand the possible outcomes. Get a free consultation today by calling our office at 613-233-3793, or by email through our site's contact form.
We Can Help You Understand Your Charges
Despite the media's talk about loosening of Canada's drug laws, drugs (including marijuana) remain illegal. The most common drugs we see in Canada are:
- Marijuana/cannabis
- Heroin
- Cocaine (powder and crack)
- Speed
- Ecstasy
- Methamphetamine
- LSD
- Opioid pain relievers such as Percodan, Demerol and OxyContin
- Stimulants such as Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall and Dexedrine
- Tranquillizers and sedatives such as Valium, Ativan and Xanax
Depending on the amount and type of drug use, and the circumstances surrounding your arrest, your drug charge may be minor or serious. However, even relatively minor crimes such as possession of marijuana may have unexpectedly severe consequences beyond fines and possible incarceration.
At the office of Nicholas St-Pierre, we will discuss a number of matters when you come in to talk about your drug charge.
We Know The Consequences You Need To Avoid
Any drug-related conviction, even one resulting only in a minor fine, may affect your ability to enter certain careers, hold certain jobs or travel out of the country, particularly to the States. Even if you are eventually able to get your record cleared in Canada, international authorities are under no obligation to allow you to enter other countries.
You may also lose property due to confiscation, particularly property involved in the crime. This could include a vehicle used to traffic drugs, a home used to grow marijuana, or even a house or car bought with the proceeds of drugs.
If you are a landed immigrant, or refugee, you may lose your status and be deported.
You need to know all possible consequences before deciding to plead guilty.
We Will Thoroughly Evaluate The Evidence For You
Evidence may include search warrants, wiretaps, surveillance notes and video, drugs, drug paraphernalia, witness statements, informant statements and statements taken from you after your arrest.
We will see if any of it can be excluded on Charter grounds. Even if the evidence against you is fairly serious, if it was not obtained in the proper manner, it should not be used against you.
Understand Sentencing For Drug Charges
The law on sentencing for drug crimes is constantly evolving. Simple possession is the only offence that does not involve a mandatory minimum penalty where it is possible to have meaningful discussions with the Crown about alternatives to avoid incarceration or a criminal record. Offences where you may face mandatory minimum jail sentences include:
- Trafficking, which includes giving or administering drugs to others, not just selling them)
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking, which is having a quantity of drugs with the drugs paraphernalia to establish intent to traffic
- Production (producing the drugs naturally or in lab)
- Importing or exporting drugs
Get A Free Consultation About Drug Charges
Call 613-233-3793 or fill out our online form to make an appointment. We represent clients on drug convictions in Gatineau, Ottawa, and surrounding parts of Ontario and Quebec.
