Drugs in Canada

In Canada, drugs are controlled and regulated through the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. In Ontario, the legal drinking age for alcohol is 19.

Commonly used illegal drugs in Canada include:

  • MDMA (Molly, Ecstasy, E)
  • Marijuana (Pot, Weed, Blunts)
  • Acid (LSD)
  • Mushrooms (Psilocybin)
  • DMT
  • Methamphetamines
  • Cocaine
  • Poppers (Nitrites)
  • Speed (Crystal Meth)
  • GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyrate)
  • Heroine
  • Special K (Ketamine)

Many prescription medications, such as Morphine, Oxycodone, Benzodiazepines and Methadone, are also bought and sold illegally. Learn more about harm reduction and currently illegal drugs here.

Impaired Driving
Blood Alcohol Concentration
Know Your Rights

Impaired Driving

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) defines impaired driving as operating a vehicle (including cars, trucks, boats, snowmobiles, and off-road vehicles) while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Impaired driving is a crime under the Criminal Code of Canada and the consequences are serious. Repercussions can and may include:

  • losing your license
  • having your vehicle impounded
  • having to pay an administrative monetary penalty
  • being required to attend an education or treatment program
  • being fined upon conviction
  • being required to install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle
  • spending time in jail

Even one drink can reduce your ability to react to things that happen suddenly while you are driving. The effects of alcohol include blurred vision, impaired attention, and slowed reflexes. Your life, and the lives of others, can change forever if you drink and drive. To learn more about alcohol related impaired driving here.

Drugs can also impair your ability to drive. This holds true for prescription, over-the-counter, and illegal drugs. For more information on how drugs impair your driving, click here.

Avoid impaired driving by taking these simple steps:

  • make sure you have a plan to get home safely
  • ask your doctor or pharmacist about side effects when using prescription medication (relating to driving, and/or concerning mixing with alcohol)
  • read the information supplied with prescription medications and/or over-the-counter medicine (including allergy and cold medications)
  • remember: fatigue and stress will also affect your ability to drive safely!

For more information regarding impaired driving, click here.

Blood Alcohol Concentration

The amount of alcohol in your body is measured by the quantity of alcohol in your blood. This is called blood alcohol concentration or BAC. The moment you consume an alcoholic drink, there is no way to guess what your BAC is.

Many factors can affect your blood alcohol level, including:

  • how quickly you drink
  • your gender (male or female)
  • body weight
  • amount of food in your stomach

In Ontario (and the rest of Canada), the maximum legal BAC for fully licensed drivers is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood (0.08%). Driving with blood alcohol concentration over 0.08% is a criminal offense. Learn more about BAC here.

In Ontario your BAC does not have to exceed the legal limit (0.08%) to result in serious consequences. If you register a BAC from 0.05%-0.08% (commonly referred to as the Warn Range), you will face provincial administrative penalties.

Know Your Rights

Youth Criminal Law Information (for those under the age of 18)

Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) develops practical legal rights information to help people with low incomes or who face other barriers, understand and exercise their legal rights. This Youth Criminal Law website is produced by CLEO.