Drug offences encompass possession and use of small quantities of drugs to serious offences that include cultivating narcotic plants and/or trafficking drugs on a commercial basis.
Courts generally accept that some classes of drugs (e.g. cannabis), are less serious than hard drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin.
Often when police lay charges it is important to check whether the drug alleged is in fact a “drug of dependence”. Many times we’ve found that police lay incorrect charges by labelling prescription drugs (which is a lesser offence) as drugs of dependence.
Section 36B Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic)
Section 73 Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic)
Section 71AC Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic)
Section 71AA Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic)
Section 72B Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic)
Section 72A Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic)