The offender was convicted by a jury of possession of 72 methadone pills contrary to s. 4 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act after bringing the pills into Canada without a valid Canadian prescription.
The offender was a 41‑year‑old first offender who claimed the medication had been obtained in Iran to address an opium addiction and argued that an absolute discharge was necessary to avoid losing his employment.
The Crown sought a suspended sentence with probation, emphasizing general deterrence and the deliberate importation of controlled drugs into Canada.
The court found that an absolute discharge would undermine general deterrence but that a suspended sentence was excessive given the offender’s lack of record and addiction‑related motivation.
A conditional discharge with probationary conditions was imposed.
