What is the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act?

The primary goal of the CDSA is to protect public health and safety by preventing the illegal use and trafficking of controlled substances in Canada. The legislation aims to achieve this in four ways.

1. Classifying controlled substances into different schedules based on their potential for harm and abuse. This classification determines how the substance is regulated under the law.
2. The CDSA sets strict rules for obtaining and using controlled substances for legitimate purposes, such as medical treatment.
3. The legislation imposes criminal penalties for offences related to the production, distribution and possession of controlled substances.
4. The CDSA recognizes the importance of treatment and rehabilitation for individuals struggling with addiction and provides resources to help overcome their substance use.

Under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, controlled substances are classified into different schedules based on their potential for harm and abuse. Here are some examples of substances that fall into each classification.

Schedule I: This includes drugs and substances that are considered to be the most harmful and have a high potential for abuse, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines and fentanyl.

Schedule II: This schedule includes drugs and substances that have a high potential for abuse and can cause significant harm to users. This includes synthetic cannabinoid receptor type 1 agonists, their salts, derivatives, isomers, and salts of derivatives and isomers.

Schedule III: This schedule includes drugs and substances that have a moderate potential for abuse and can cause some harm to users such as LSD and magic mushrooms.

Schedule IV: These are classified as drugs and substances with a low potential for abuse and are commonly used for medical purposes. Examples include benzodiazepines, which are used to treat anxiety and insomnia, and some types of barbiturates.

Schedule V: A group of novel fentanyl precursors used in the illegal production of fentanyl and substances chemically related to fentanyl. 

The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act was enacted by the Canadian government in response to the growing problem of drug abuse and addiction in the country. Prior to this legislation, drug control was governed by the Narcotic Control Act and the Food and Drug Act. Both were seen as ineffective in addressing the changing landscape of drug use.

The CDSA was designed to be a more comprehensive and flexible law that could adapt to new and emerging drug threats. Since its enactment, the legislation has been amended several times to address new drug trends and changing societal attitudes toward drug use.