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Viewing Publications Categorized "Drug Offences"

Conditional sentences are punitive and fair
Conditional sentences are punitive and fair

In early November I was disappointed to learn the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) restored provisions in the Criminal Code in R. v Sharma, stating that conditional sentences cannot be given for crimes that carry maximum sentences of at least 14 years in prison, or 10 years in drug-related cases.

Expert witness testimony key in Charter violation ruling
Expert witness testimony key in Charter violation ruling

The defence in a B.C. drug trial has made effective use of an expert witness to demonstrate that a police dog’s behaviour did not justify the search of a man’s vehicle, says Ottawa criminal lawyer Céline Dostaler.

 

Pot pardon legislation doesn’t ‘go far enough'
Pot pardon legislation doesn’t ‘go far enough'

Impeding legislation which would grant free pardons for Canadians convicted of simple marijuana possession is a “great start” but could be better, says Ottawa criminal lawyer Céline Dostaler.

Cannabis-intoxication cases may bog down courts
Cannabis-intoxication cases may bog down courts

Both technical and legal uncertainty about how using marijuana may cause driving impairment threaten to hamstring the court system as lawyers put the new laws on trial.

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