Tina and the Law

Tina is illegal in Canada

In response to social and economic impacts of increasing use of crystal meth across Canada, the federal government reclassified methamphetamine as a “Schedule I” substance in the Criminal Code of Canada. This means that the harshest penalties apply to Tina.

Here’s what you should know:

• Possessing any amount of Tina is illegal
• Trafficking is defined broadly: to sell, administer, give, transfer, transport, send, or deliver.
• Possession and/or trafficking of Tina can be prosecuted in two ways:

1. You can be charged with an indictable offence, which means imprisonment for up to 7 years.
2. Alternately, you could be charged on a summary conviction which means on a first offence, a maximum fine of $1000 and/or a prison sentence of up to 6 months. A second
offence on a summary conviction increases the jail time to a maximum of 1 year.

What determines which track you be prosecuted on?

We checked with the Drug Squad of the Toronto Police Department. They say it depends on which way the crown wants to go with the prosecution. The crown makes their mind up on the circumstances of the case and your previous record, if any. The amount of Tina you are in possession of also makes a difference. When a drug is an established problem in a community (such as Tina in the gay community), the court often issues stricter penalties to establish general deterrence.

Good Samaritan Overdose Act

If you see an overdose in action, call 9-1-1. The Act exempts anyone who calls emergency help from police charges of simple possession of illegal drugs, as well as pre-trial release, probation orders, conditional sentencing, or parole violations related to simple possession. This exemption applies to yourself or anyone you are calling 9-1-1 for. It applies to anyone else at the scene when emergency help arrives. Click here to read the Act.