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PART III
DISPOSAL OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
APPLICATION FOR RETURN OF SUBSTANCE
24. (1) Where a controlled substance has been seized, found or otherwise acquired by a peace officer or an inspector, any person may, within sixty days after the date of the seizure, finding or acquisition, on prior notification being given to the Attorney General in the prescribed manner, apply, by notice in writing to a justice in the jurisdiction in which the substance is being detained, for an order to return that substance to the person.
Order to return substance forthwith
(2) Where, on the hearing of an application made under subsection (1), a justice is satisfied that an applicant is the lawful owner or is lawfully entitled to possession of the controlled substance and the Attorney General does not indicate that the substance or a portion of it may be required for the purposes of a preliminary inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this or any other Act of Parliament, the justice shall, subject to subsection (5), order that the substance or the portion not required for the purposes of the proceeding be returned forthwith to the applicant.
Order to return substance at specified time
(3) Where, on the hearing of an application made under subsection (1), a justice is satisfied that an applicant is the lawful owner or is lawfully entitled to possession of the controlled substance but the Attorney General indicates that the substance or a portion of it may be required for the purposes of a preliminary inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this or any other Act of Parliament, the justice shall, subject to subsection (5), order that the substance or the portion required for the purposes of the proceeding be returned to the applicant
(a) on the expiration of one hundred and eighty days after the application was made, if no proceeding in relation to the substance has been commenced before that time; or
(b) on the final conclusion of the proceeding or any other proceeding in relation to the substance, where the applicant is not found guilty in those proceedings of an offence committed in relation to the substance.
Order to return substance refused
(4) Where, on the hearing of an application made under subsection (1), a justice is not satisfied that an applicant is the lawful owner or is lawfully entitled to possession of the controlled substance, the justice shall order that the substance or the portion not required for the purposes of a preliminary inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this or any other Act of Parliament be forfeited to Her Majesty to be disposed of or otherwise dealt with in accordance with the regulations or, if there are no applicable regulations, in such manner as the Minister directs.
Payment of compensation in lieu
(5) Where, on the hearing of an application made under subsection (1), a justice is satisfied that an applicant is the lawful owner or is lawfully entitled to possession of a controlled substance, but an order has been made under subsection 26(2) in respect of the substance, the justice shall make an order that an amount equal to the value of the substance be paid to the applicant.
DISPOSAL BY MINISTER WHERE NO APPLICATION
25. Where no application for the return of a controlled substance has been made under subsection 24(1) within sixty days after the date of the seizure, finding or acquisition by a peace officer or inspector and the substance or a portion of it is not required for the purposes of any preliminary inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Act or any other Act of Parliament, the substance or the portion not required for the purposes of the proceeding shall be delivered to the Minister to be disposed of or otherwise dealt with in accordance with the regulations or, if there are no applicable regulations, in such manner as the Minister directs.
SECURITY, HEALTH OR SAFETY HAZARD
26. (1) Where the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that a controlled substance that has been seized, found or otherwise acquired by a peace officer or inspector constitutes a potential security, public health or safety hazard, the Minister may, on prior notification being given to the Attorney General in the prescribed manner, at any time, make an application, ex parte, to a justice for an order that the substance or a portion of it be forfeited to Her Majesty to be disposed of or otherwise dealt with in accordance with the regulations or, if there are no applicable regulations, in such manner as the Minister directs.
Security, health or safety hazard
(2) Where, on the hearing of an application made under subsection (1), a justice is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the controlled substance constitutes a potential security, public health or safety hazard, the justice shall order that the substance or any portion not required for the purposes of a preliminary inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this or any other Act of Parliament be forfeited to Her Majesty to be disposed of or otherwise dealt with in accordance with the regulations or, if there are no applicable regulations, in such manner as the Minister directs.
DISPOSAL FOLLOWING PROCEDINGS
27. Subject to section 24, where, pursuant to a preliminary inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this or any other Act of Parliament, the court before which the proceedings have been brought is satisfied that any controlled substance that is the subject of proceedings before the court is no longer required by that court or any other court, the court
(a) shall
(i) where it is satisfied that the person from whom the substance was seized came into possession of the substance in accordance with the regulations and continued to deal with it in accordance with the regulations, order that the substance be returned to the person, or
(ii) where it is satisfied that possession of the substance by the person from whom it was seized is unlawful and the person who is lawfully entitled to its possession is known, order that the substance be returned to the person who is the lawful owner or is lawfully entitled to its possession; and
(b) may, where it is not satisfied that the substance should be returned pursuant to subparagraph (i) or (ii) or where possession of the substance by the person from whom it was seized is unlawful and the person who is the lawful owner or is lawfully entitled to its possession is not known, order that the substance be forfeited to Her Majesty to be disposed of or otherwise dealt with in accordance with the regulations or, if there are no applicable regulations, in such manner as the Minister directs.
DISPOSAL WITH CONSENT
28. Where a controlled substance has been seized, found or otherwise acquired by a peace officer or inspector under this Act or the regulations and the substance or a portion of it is not required for the purposes of a preliminary inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this or any other Act of Parliament, the person who is the lawful owner or is lawfully entitled to its possession may consent to its disposal, and on such consent being given the substance or portion is thereupon forfeited to Her Majesty and may be disposed of or otherwise dealt with in accordance with the regulations or, if there are no applicable regulations, in such manner as the Minister directs.
DESTRUCTION OF PLANT
29. The Minister may, on prior notification being given to the Attorney General, cause to be destroyed any plant from which a substance included in Schedule I, II, III or IV may be extracted that is being produced otherwise than under the authority of and in accordance with a licence issued under the regulations.
PART IV
ADMINISTRATION AND COMPLIANCE
Inspectors
DESIGNATION INSPECTORS
30. (1) The Minister may designate, in accordance with the regulations made pursuant to paragraph 55(1)(n), any person as an inspector for the purposes of this Act and the regulations.
Certificate of designation
(2) An inspector shall be furnished with a prescribed certificate of designation, and on entering any place pursuant to subsection 31(1) shall, on request, produce the certificate to the person in charge of the place.
POWERS OF INSPECTOR
31. (1) Subject to subsection (2), an inspector may, to ensure compliance with the regulations, at any reasonable time enter any place the inspector believes on reasonable grounds is used for the purpose of conducting the business or professional practice of any person licensed or otherwise authorized under the regulations to deal in a controlled substance or a precursor and may for that purpose
(a) open and examine any receptacle or package found in that place in which a controlled substance or a precursor may be found;
(b) examine any thing found in that place that is used or may be capable of being used for the production, preservation, packaging or storage of a controlled substance or a precursor;
(c) examine any labels or advertising material or records, books, electronic data or other documents found in that place with respect to any controlled substance or precursor, other than the records of the medical condition of persons, and make copies thereof or take extracts therefrom;
(d) use or cause to be used any computer system at that place to examine any electronic data referred to in paragraph (c);
(e) reproduce any document from any electronic data referred to in paragraph (c) or cause it to be reproduced, in the form of a printout or other output;
(f) take the labels or advertising material or records, books or other documents referred to in paragraph (c) or the printout or other output referred to in paragraph (e) for examination or copying;
(g) use or cause to be used any copying equipment at that place to make copies of any document;
(h) examine any substance found in that place and take, for the purpose of analysis, such samples thereof as are reasonably required; and
(i) seize and detain in accordance with this Part, any controlled substance or precursor the seizure and detention of which the inspector believes on reasonable grounds is necessary.
Warrant required to enter dwelling-place
(2) Where a place referred to in subsection (1) is a dwelling-place, an inspector may not enter the dwelling-place without the consent of an occupant thereof except under the authority of a warrant issued under subsection (3).
Authority to issue warrant
(3) Where, on ex parte application, a justice is satisfied by information on oath that
(a) a place referred to in subsection (1) is a dwelling-place but otherwise meets the conditions for entry described in that subsection,
(b) entry to the dwelling-place is necessary for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the regulations, and
(c) entry to the dwelling-place has been refused or there are reasonable grounds to believe that entry will be refused,
the justice may issue a warrant authorizing the inspector named in it to enter that dwelling-place and exercise any of the powers mentioned in paragraphs (1)(a) to (i), subject to such conditions as may be specified in the warrant.
Use of force
(4) In executing a warrant issued under subsection (3), an inspector shall not use force unless the inspector is accompanied by a peace officer and the use of force is specifically authorized in the warrant.
Assistance to inspector
(5) The owner or other person in charge of a place entered by an inspector under subsection (1) and every person found there shall give the inspector all reasonable assistance in the power of that person and furnish the inspector with such information as the inspector may reasonably require.
Storage of substances seized
(6) Where an inspector seizes and detains a controlled substance or a precursor, the substance or precursor may, at the discretion of the inspector, be kept or stored at the place where it was seized or, at the direction of the inspector, be removed to any other proper place.
Notice
(7) An inspector who seizes a controlled substance or a precursor shall take such measures as are reasonable in the circumstances to give to the owner or other person in charge of the place where the seizure occurred notice of the seizure and of the location where the controlled substance or precursor is being kept or stored.
Return by inspector
(8) Where an inspector determines that to ensure compliance with the regulations it is no longer necessary to detain a controlled substance or a precursor seized by the inspector under paragraph (1)(i), the inspector shall notify in writing the owner or other person in charge of the place where the seizure occurred of that determination and, on being issued a receipt for it, shall return the controlled substance or precursor to that person.
Return or disposal by Minister
(9) Notwithstanding sections 24, 25 and 27, where a period of one hundred and twenty days has elapsed after the date of a seizure under paragraph (1)(i) and the controlled substance or precursor has not been returned in accordance with subsection (8), the controlled substance or precursor shall be returned, disposed of or otherwise dealt with in such manner as the Minister directs, in accordance with any applicable regulations.
OBSTRUCTING INSPECTOR
32. (1) No person shall, by act or omission, obstruct an inspector who is engaged in the performance of duties under this Act or the regulations.
False statements
(2) No person shall knowingly make any false or misleading statement verbally or in writing to an inspector who is engaged in the performance of duties under this Act or the regulations.
Interference
(3) No person shall, without the authority of an inspector, remove, alter or interfere in any way with anything seized, detained or taken under section 31.
Subsections 1-3
Subsections 4-23
Subsections 24-32 (This one)
Subsections 33-60
Subsections 61-95
Schedule I
Schedule II-III
Schedule IV-V
Schedule VI-VIII
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