skip to content

Refine results


Search by

Search by Algolia
Need Legal Help, read about who we are.

Sentencing Considerations

The Sentencing Act 2017 (SA) sections 3, 4, 10 and 11 prescribe the matters relevant to sentencing which must be considered by a sentencing court [see Sentencing and Guilty Pleas chapters for a detailed discussion of sentencing purposes, principles and factors]. In addition, the Controlled Substances Act 1984 section 44 outlines matters a sentencing court must take into account when sentencing for drug offences. For indictable or minor indictable offences, the sentencing court must take into consideration:

  • The nature and quantity of the substance or goods involved in the commission of the offence [see Controlled Substances Act ss 44(1)(a) and 44(1)(b ) ];
  • The personal circumstances of the convicted person including personal use of any controlled drug [see s 44(1)(c)].

In relation to offences against Part 5 Division 2 or 3 (trafficking, manufacture and sale of controlled drugs, cultivation and sale of controlled plants):

  • The commercial or other motives of the convicted person whilst committing the offence [see s 44(1)(d)(i)];
  • The financial gain likely to be accrued as a result of the commission of the offence [see s 44(1)(d)(ii)].

In the case of an offence against s 33F (the sale, supply or administration of a controlled drug to a child), s 33H (procuring a child to commit an offence), s 33I (supply or administer a controlled drug):

  • Whether the offence occurred within a school zone or prescribed place [see s 44(1)(da)].

In the case of an offence involving possession of a drug of dependence (or a prohibited substance) for the purpose of sale, supply or administration of the drug or substance to another person (not being an offence committed within a school zone):

  • Whether the offence occurred at or near any other prescribed place [see s 44(1)(db)];
  • Any other relevant factor [see s 44(1)(e)].

In determining the penalty for any summary or indictable offence against pt 5 involving a controlled drug (but not cannabis, cannabis resin, or cannabis oil) the penalty must be determined on the basis that all controlled drugs are categorised equally as very harmful [see s 44(2)].

Section 44(1) came into effect on 3 December 2007, and only applies to offences committed on or after that date [see Controlled Substances (Serious Drug Offences) Amendment Act 2005].

Sections 44(2) and 44(3) came into effect on 10 September 2009, and only apply to offences committed on or after that date [see Controlled Substances (Controlled Drugs, Precursors and Cannabis) Amendment Act 2008].

Brief penalty summary

BRIEF PENALTY SUMMARY - CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT 1984 (as at September 2021)

Description of offence Section Maximum Penalty (Fine/Imprisonment)
Prescription Drugs
Unlawful sale, supply or administer a prescription drug

18(1)

(1a) - (1c)

$10 000 / 2 years
Unlawful possession of a prescription drug (not a drug of dependence) 18(3) $10 000 / 2 years
Forge or fraudulently alter or utter a prescription or other document to obtain a prescribed drug 30(1) $15 000 / 5 years
Possession of a forged or fraudulently altered prescription or document to obtain a prescribed drug 30(1) $15 000 / 5 years
Obtain prescription drug, or a prescription for prescription drug, by false representation 30(2) $10 000 / 2 years
Obtain prescription drug by using a false name or address 30(2a) $10 000
Volatile Solvents
Sale or supply of volatile solvent for inhalation 19(1) $10 000 / 2 years
Purchase a volatile solvent for another person for inhalation 19(2) $10 000 / 2 years

Sell or supply volatile solvent (petroleum product) to person under 16 years of age

Sell or supply volatile solvent (nitrous oxide) to a person under 18 years

19(3) $10 000
Controlled Drugs
Manufacture a controlled drug 33J(1) $35 000 / 7 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence $75 000 / 15 years, or both)
Manufacture large commercial quantity of a controlled drug for sale 33(1) $1 000 000 / imprisonment for life, or both
Manufacture commercial quantity of a controlled drug for sale 33(2) $200 000 / 25 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence $500 000 / imprisonment for life, or both)
Manufacture a controlled drug for sale 33(3) $50 000 / 10 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence $75 000/ 15 years, or both)
Sale or possession of equipment
Sale or possession with an intention to sell, of equipment used for the preparation of, or for smoking, consuming or administering a controlled drug 33D $15 000 / 3 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence: $20 000 / 5 years, or both)
Sell, supply or administer to a child
Sell, supply, or administer a controlled drug to a child or possession of a controlled drug intending to sell, supply or administer to a child 33F $1 000 000 / imprisonment for life, or both
Sale of equipment to a child for use in connection to smoking, consuming, or administering a controlled drug or possession of equipment intended for sale to a child 33GA $20 000 / 5 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence: $30 000 / 7 years, or both)
Sell, supply or administer in school zone
Sell, supply, or administer a controlled drug to a person in a school zone, or possession of a controlled drug in a school zone intending to sell, supply or administer the drug to another person 33G $1 000 000 / imprisonment for life, or both
Trafficking in controlled drugs
Traffic in large commercial quantity 32(1) $1 000 000 / imprisonment for life, or both
Traffic in commercial quantity 32(2) $200 000 / 25 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence $500 000 / imprisonment for life, or both)
Traffic in a prescribed area 32(2a) $75 000 / 15 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence $200 000 / 25 years, or both)
Traffic in a controlled drug

**see Cannabis section for traffic in cannabis
32(3) $50 000 / 10 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence $75 000 / 15 years, or both)
Supply or administer controlled drug
Supply or administer a controlled drug to another person (not cannabis) 33I(1)(a) $50 000 / 10 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence: $75 000 / 15 years, or both)
Possession of a controlled drug with intention to supply or administer to another person (not cannabis) 33I(1)(b) $50 000 / 10 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence: $75 000 / 15 years, or both)
Controlled Drug - User Offences
Possession of a controlled drug (not cannabis) 33L(1)(a) $2 000 / 2 years, or both
Smoke, consume or administer a controlled drug to oneself or allow another person to administer a controlled drug to oneself 33L(1)(b) $2 000 / 2 years, or both
Possession of equipment for use in connection with the smoking, consumption, administration, or preparation for use of a controlled drug 33L(1)(c) $2 000 / 2 years, or both
Equipment for manufacture or cultivation
Possession or supply of prescribed equipment (hydroponic equipment for cannabis cultivation, equipment for manufacturing controlled drugs, a device comprising a hydraulic compression system and a die capable of being used to compress a powdered substance into blocks) 33LA $10 000 / 2 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence: $20 000 / 5 years, or both)
Cannabis
Cultivate Cannabis for Sale
Cultivate large commercial quantity of a controlled plant for sale (includes cannabis) 33B(1) $1 000 000 / imprisonment for life, or both
Cultivate commercial quantity of a controlled plant for sale (includes cannabis) 33B(2) $200 000 / 25 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence: $500 000 / imprisonment for life, or both)
Cultivate a controlled plant for sale

33B(3)

$50 000 / 10 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence: $75 000/ 15 years or both)

Cultivate a cannabis plant (only) for sale 33B(4) As above, but must be prosecuted in Magistrates Court where maximum penalty is 5 years unless referred to District Court for sentence.
Sale or Possession of Cannabis for Sale
Sale of a large commercial quantity of a controlled plant or possession with intention to sell (includes cannabis - prescribed amount - 100 plants) 33C(1) $1 000 000 / imprisonment for life, or both
Sale of a commercial quantity of a controlled plant or possession with intention to sell (includes cannabis - prescribed amount - 20 plants) 33C(2) $200 000 / 25 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence: $500 000 / imprisonment for life, or both)
Sale of a controlled plant or possession with intention to sell (includes cannabis) 33C(3) $50 000 / 10 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence: $75 000/ 15 years or both)
Sale or possession of a cannabis plant (only) with intention to sell 33C(4) As above, but must be prosecuted in Magistrates Court where maximum penalty is 5 years unless referred to District Court for sentence.
Supply or administer cannabis
Supply or administer cannabis, cannabis resin or cannabis oil to another person 33I(2)(a) $15 000 / 3 years, or both
Possession of cannabis, cannabis resin or cannabis oil with intention to supply or administer to another person 33I(2)(b) $15 000 / 3 years, or both
Cultivate Cannabis
Cultivate a cannabis plant by artificially enhanced cultivation 33K(1)(ab)

$2 000 / 2 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or aggravated offence: $5 000 / 5 years, or both)

Cultivate more than prescribed number of cannabis plants (5 plants) 33K(1)(b) $2 000 / 2 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence: $5 000 / 5 years, or both)
Cultivate a cannabis plant intended for supply or administration to another person 33K(1)(c) $2 000 / 2 years, or both (for a serious drug offender or an aggravated offence: $5 000 / 5 years, or both)
Cultivate not more than prescribed number of cannabis plants (5 plants) 33K(2) $2 000 / 2 years, or both

For a simple cannabis offence: (one cannabis plant) imprisonment must not be imposed – as defined in s 45A Expiable Offence
Cannabis - User Offences
Possession of cannabis, cannabis oil or cannabis resin 33L(2)(a) $2000

For a simple cannabis offence: (less than 100 grams cannabis, 20 grams of cannabis resin or 0 millilitres of cannabis oil as defined in s 45A) – Expiable Offence
Smoke or consume cannabis, cannabis oil, or cannabis resin 33L(2)(b) $2000

For a simple cannabis offence: (which excludes an offence committed in public place including in a motor vehicle, train, tram or any other vehicle, as defined in s 45A) – Expiable Offence
Possession of equipment for use in connection with the smoking, consumption, administration, or preparation for use of cannabis, cannabis oil or cannabis resin 33L(2)(c) $2000

For a simple cannabis offence: (any offence against this subsection, as defined in s 45A) – Expiable Offence
Sentencing Considerations  :  Last Revised: Fri May 4th 2018