Canada: number of drug-related offenses 2000-2022
Drug-related Crime
Drug-related crime is any crime that has to do with the manufacture, sale, possession or transportation of a substance illegal under Canada’s criminal code. Drug-related crime is one of the few areas of crime in Canada that has been on the decline over the last few decade. Throughout of 2000 to 2022 the rate of drug-related offenses in Canada has decreased. By far, the largest portion of drug-related offenses in Canada is for the possession of cannabis. The number of all offenses related to cannabis was over four times higher than the next illicit substance. Likewise, possession of any substance is also the most common drug-related offense, occurring almost four times as frequently as the next offense.
The vast majority of youths who are found guilty of a drug-related offense in criminal courts are sentenced to probation. In contrast, adults are dealt with more strictly, with the distribution of sentences for the guilty being even between, probation, fines, and custody.