Possession of cannabis or a controlled drug

Under s 33L of the Controlled Substances Act 1984 (SA) it is an offence for a person to:

This is often referred to as a simple possession offence.

Maximum penalty:

For simple possession offences involving there is a police drug diversion program available. The program diverts individuals away from the criminal justice system into treatment and education and provides an opportunity to avoid prosecution in court, see Diversionary schemes.

Whether or not a person is guilty of a simple possession/use charge or a more serious charge of trafficking, manufacturing, cultivation, sale or supply will depend partly on the amount of the drug involved.

Presumption of sale or supply

Possession of more than a certain amount of a drug or substance will lead to a presumption that it is for sale or supply and take the offence out of this penalty range.

Possession of a controlled precursor

It is an offence to possess, or to supply, or to possess intending to supply, a prescribed amount of a controlled precursor [Controlled Substances Act 1984 (SA) s 33LB].

Maximum penalty: $15 000 or 3 years imprisonment or both [s 33LB(1)(a)(ii)]. Where the offender is a serious drug offender, or the offence is an aggravated offence, the maximum penalty increases to a fine of up to $20 000, or imprisonment for 5 years, or both [s 33LB(1)(a)(i); s 33LB(1)(b)].

The maximum penalty increases if, in addition, the person also possesses, supplies, or possesses with intention to supply another kind of controlled precursor or any prescribed equipment: $20 000 or 5 years imprisonment, or both [s 33LB(2)(a)(ii)]. Where the offender is a serious drug offender, or the offence is an aggravated offence, the maximum penalty is a fine of up to 430 000, or imprisonment for 7 years, or both [see ss 33LB(2)(a)(i); ss 33LB(2)(b)].

Prescribed equipment includes [Controlled Substances (Controlled Drugs, Precursors and Plants) Regulations 2014 (SA) reg 9]: