Drug and weapons charges are prosecuted under different statutes — the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act for drugs, the Criminal Code for weapons and firearms — but they are grouped together here because they raise many of the same practical issues: search and seizure, how police obtain and execute warrants, and the generally more serious, often indictable nature of the charges involved. This hub organizes our existing guides and charge pages on these topics. For theft, fraud, and other property-crime charges, see our Theft, Fraud & Property Crimes hub.
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Weapons ChargesWeapons and Firearms Charges in Ontario: What Happens After You're Charged
A narrative walkthrough of how weapons and firearms charges typically arise, how licensing and storage rules interact with a charge, and what generally happens next.
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Weapons and Firearms Charges in Ontario: What Happens After You're Charged
How weapons and firearms charges typically arise, licensing and storage issues, bail, and what generally happens next.
Drug Trafficking and Production Charges: The Investigation and Court Process
How trafficking and production investigations typically unfold, bail complexity, Crown election, and disclosure in larger cases.
Search Warrants and Digital Evidence in Drug and Weapons Cases
How warrants are obtained and executed, phone and device searches, chain of custody, and Charter challenge basics.
Drug Offences
Drug Possession
How section 4 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act works, penalties by schedule, and what to expect next.
Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking
How CDSA section 5(2) is proven through inference evidence, penalties, and what to expect.
Drug Trafficking
How section 5(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act defines trafficking, penalties, and what to expect next.
Drug Production
How section 7 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act defines production, penalties, and cannabis cultivation.
Importing and Exporting Allegations
How section 6 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act works, penalties, and next steps.
Weapons and Firearms Offences
Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
How sections 91 and 92 of the Criminal Code differ, penalties, and what to expect next.
Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Weapon
Section 95 of the Criminal Code for possessing a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm, penalties, and the R. v. Nur ruling.
Weapons Trafficking
How sections 99-101 of the Criminal Code define trafficking, transferring, and possession for trafficking, and penalties.
Firearms Storage Allegations
How section 86 of the Criminal Code defines careless storage and handling, penalties, and next steps.
Using a Weapon During an Offence
How section 85 of the Criminal Code works, penalties, and what to expect next.
Search and Seizure
Drug and weapons investigations frequently involve a search of a person, a vehicle, or a home, and whether that search was lawful can significantly affect a case. These general-information guides explain how search powers generally work in Ontario:
Serious and Indictable Offences
Many drug and weapons charges are hybrid or straight indictable offences, which can mean a different court process than a purely summary matter. See our overview of summary and indictable proceedings for how that classification generally affects a case, and our Arrest, Bail & the Criminal Court Process hub for the full case journey.
Helpful Tools & Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Are drug and weapons charges always indictable?
Not always. Many are hybrid offences, meaning the Crown can choose to proceed by summary conviction or by indictment depending on the circumstances. See our charge pages above for the classification of a specific offence, and our summary and indictable proceedings guide for what that distinction generally means.
What happens if a search was not lawful?
Whether a search was lawful is a fact-specific legal question that can affect whether evidence is admissible. This is general information, not legal advice about a specific search — a lawyer can review the details of your situation.
Do these charges carry mandatory minimum sentences?
Some drug and weapons offences carry mandatory minimum penalties in certain circumstances, while others do not. See the individual charge pages above for general information on penalties, and speak with a lawyer for how sentencing considerations may apply to a specific case.