Toronto Cultivation of Marijuana and Trafficking Criminal Defence Lawyers
Have you been charged with cultivation of marijuana or other related drug crimes? Call The Criminal Law Team comprised of criminal lawyers Stephen Hebscher & Bruce Karten.
The Criminal Law Team has extensive experience defending drug charges throughout Ontario, and we have achieved excellent results for our clients. We have handled numerous cases involving clients who have been charged with cultivation of marijuana, as well as other drug offences including cocaine possession, drug possession and drug trafficking.
Mandatory minimums for cultivation of marijuana
The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act calls for a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment for the offence of production of marijuana. In addition, the Canadian government has recently introduced mandatory minimum sentences for cultivation of marijuana and other more serious drug crimes. The new mandatory minimums include sentences as high as 6 months in prison for the cultivation of over five marijuana plants, if the production is for the purpose of trafficking. The minimum sentence could be raised to nine months if the accused uses someone else’s property to grow the marijuana, the production constituted a potential public safety hazard in a residential area, or the accused set or placed a trap that is likely to cause death or bodily harm to another person. There is also a minimum two year prison term if the accused is found guilty of trafficking in drugs, such as marijuana or cocaine, and the accused “committed the offence in or near a school… or in or near any other public place usually frequented by persons under the age of 18 years”, or the accused used the services of such person, or the accused committed the offence in a prison.
Search Warrants
If you have been charged with cultivation of marijuana, cocaine possession, drug production or drug trafficking, it is important that you retain The Criminal Law Team as soon as possible. We have the ability to identify weaknesses in a search warrant and the supporting observations, which could result in charges being withdrawn, a verdict of not guilty at trial, or preventing the prosecution from seizing your home as “offence-related property”. While the severity of punishment for drug offences in Canada can be harsh, Toronto’s Criminal Law Team has had substantial experience challenging police search warrants, and the lawfulness of police arrests. For example, in one search and seizure case where at least four different types of drugs were alleged to have been located in our client’s home, we were successful in obtaining the withdrawal of all charges, largely because of search warrant issues and inadequate back-up observations. In other cases where the conclusions about search warrants or police observations were not as clear, we were able to negotiate a plea to a much less serious charge that resulted in the avoidance of lengthy jail sentences.
Your Best Defence
In the past several years, police forces across Canada have justified significantly stepping up their investigations of marijuana (cannabis) grow operations. With our experience in this area of the criminal law, we are familiar with how to challenge police conduct and search warrants. It is not uncommon for police to receive an “anonymous tip” that a home is “suspected” of being used for the cultivation of marijuana. If the police do not follow-up on the tip before they enter a place they wish to search, then any evidence obtained from the execution of the search warrant may not be admissible. The tip must be corroborated by police investigation in order to uphold the search warrant. Therefore, it is routine procedure for The Criminal Law Team to obtain a copy of the search warrant and the affidavit in support of the warrant to determine whether or not there are serious weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
Toronto’s Criminal Law Team have a combined 60+ years of courtroom experience specifically in criminal law, and have defended hundreds of clients charged with cultivation of marijuana, drug trafficking, drug possession and other drug offences. We have an estimated 85% success rate in getting charges dropped, reduced or withdrawn completely. See what our other clients are saying about us. We can help you too!
Client Testimonials
I appreciate the quick response. Stephen Hebscher gave me extremely good advice about my situation. I was being extorted by an employee of mine,and he helped me resolve the matter within days. Now I don¹t have this black cloud hanging over my head. I will highly suggest Stephen and The Criminal Law Team to anyone that needs the help of an experienced criminal lawyer! Thanks again!
M.A.
I came to Stephen Hebscher with a somewhat irregular case. Both my spouse and I had been mutually charged with domestic assault, a legal situation that neither of us had wished upon each other. While my spouse's lawyer had been content to seek mutually binding peace bonds, Stephen was able to get in front of the case and negotiate a withdrawal of both of our charges- the best possible outcome on BOTH sides of the table – once we successfully completing the PARs program. I remain entirely pleased with Stephen's competency, professionalism and accessibility, and would not hesitate to recommend him as a criminal defence lawyer. L.A.
Mr. Hebscher: I would like to thank you for your excellent representation of me in relation to the domestic assault charges that you worked so hard to have withdrawn. You have made a critical difference in my future and I am very happy with the outcome.
I also appreciate your hard work, and the extra time and effort you have put in to deal with all the other issues that came along. I thank you for being a phone call away (or email) even when you did not have to be.
I will gladly recommend your services to any of my friends or family should they ever need it. I am very grateful for what you have done.
M.B. Toronto
Dear Bruce Karten
I wanted to send a note to express my family’s gratitude for everything you have done for my brother. With his mental illness, and the serious charges that were laid against him that included arson and endangering life under the Criminal Code of Canada, we were terrified of what was going to happen to him. These charges could well have resulted in him being sentenced to jail for a period of 10 years or more.
I did not know what to expect when I made that first call to you, Bruce, but through the months it took to resolve this, your professionalism, knowledge and patience in explaining what you were planning to do in a way that we were able to understand, made us feel less anxious and more hopeful.
Thanks to you, his charges were substantially reduced and he received a sentence that allowed him to continue to receive the medical help he needs to recover and look to putting his life back together. Any period of jail would have been devastating to his chances of recovering from this devastating situation. We would recommend you, Bruce Karten, without hesitation, to anyone in need of an excellent criminal defense lawyer.
Thank you,
Shirley, T., Whitby, Ontario
Dear Mr. Hebscher: I wish to commend and thank you for your recent handling of my friend’s court case. Your compassionate and thorough scrutiny of the circumstances lead to a withdrawal verdict. Thank you so much. I was most impressed and should I ever be in a similar serious situation you will be the first person I call. Again, you represent all the good side of lawyers.
C.M.
Toronto, ON
Dear Mr. Hebscher: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you ever so much for your great professionalism and humane service to me at a time of profound confusion and in dire need of legal counsel. From my first introduction via telephone, your voice made me feel comfortable. Dealing with you from the beginning to end kept me reassured I was in good hands. The final outcome of my court case, which was “withdrawn” confirmed that I truly had a good lawyer on my side and it was your advocacy that convinced the crown. I would highly recommend you to anyone in need of an excellent criminal lawyer. Once again, I thank you and God bless.
M.J.
Toronto
Excellent news!
I am impressed especially after our meeting on Monday – I was resigned that something bad would befall me, so I am very blessed to have this outcome. I thank you for the hard work that you have put into this case, and the dedication on getting me this fantastic outcome!
I am so glad that we retained you as my lawyer! You have done an outstanding job and allowed me to now rebuild my life. Thank you, Bruce Karten.
Dave B. (Ajax, Ontario)
We were referred to Stephen Hebscher when our child was in need of legal representation. He was charged with sexual assault. As parents, we were quite frightened for our child but Mr. Hebscher was the calm voice of reason. We are very grateful to Mr. Hebscher for the excellent results he got for our child, as the charges were dropped.
J.N. (Toronto, Ontario)
Mr. Hebscher is a very professional lawyer who takes pride in his work and because of this the end result was the judge ruling me not guilty and I got my innocence and life back. My family and I would like to thank you again Stephen Hebscher for doing a wonderful job and also being a very supportive man.
Chris T. (Scarborough, Ontario)
I am happy to report that Bruce’s superior negotiation strategy and ability to present facts effectively helped convince the Crown to reduce his position. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bruce for getting my charge withdrawn and keep my criminal record clean.
J.S (Toronto, Ontario)
I looked and found Barrister Stephen Hebscher I introduced myself and my case and after listening to all details he was able to ensure me that my case would go well. All charges against me have be thrown out and my life is back to normal.
Blair H. (North York)
Bruce ...The care and concern you showed us during our dealings certainly helped to reduce the stress we were under. I would recommend you without a second thought. Your winning record is a bonus as well. My husband and myself can't thank you enough for all you've done for our family.
Debi T. (Mississauga, Ontario)
Dear Mr. Hebscher...There are not enough words to express my appreciation for your...giving me your undivided attention at all times, work in my case with your heart and soul, that makes you "ONE OF A KIND" lawyer.
Ahmed A. (Brampton, Ontario)
Mr. Bruce Karten was able to help to extricate me from a very serious criminal case containing severe charges, including weapons –threat to use weapons, death threat, harassment,etc. He succeeded in winning my case. I was discharged; was able to keep my career, and no criminal record. This was a tremendous accomplishment, and I am very appreciative of that.
Nickolai V. (Toronto, Ontario)
Again, from the depth of our hearts we sincerely thank you very much for being my Counsel on this case. We now can say you are the BEST and we will surely recommend you to our friends and anybody here we know who needs the best Lawyer in Ontario. You have done an extremely good job and we are very happy with the outcome this morning.
Roman A. (Markham, Ontario)
Mr. Hebscher was the only lawyer who gave me hope and made me feel like I had a real fighting chance. I am extremely satisfied with the quick results that he delivered, and I am happy to say that he was able to convince the court to drop the charges against me and clear my name.
Tina M. (Toronto, Ontario)
