Police in Canada recorded 59,808 drug violations in 2025, a rate of 144 per 100,000 people, up 11% from 2024, according to Statistics Canada. Among the large metro areas in our data set, Lethbridge (435 per 100,000), Victoria (357), Vancouver (351) and London, Ontario (348) had the highest rates, while Ottawa (39) and Winnipeg (60) had the lowest.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), incidents by violation and census metropolitan area (Table 35-10-0177-01). Ratios, shares and population estimates are our own calculation. B.C. decriminalization details checked on the Government of British Columbia and Health Canada websites on 21 October 2026. Updated 21 October 2026.
Key facts
- Canadian police recorded 59,808 drug violations in 2025, or 144 per 100,000 people, up 11% from 2024 (Statistics Canada, released 22 July 2026).
- The number of drug violations equalled about 2.6% of all police-reported Criminal Code incidents in Canada in 2025 (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
- The Lethbridge CMA had the highest drug violation rate in our data set, 435 per 100,000, about three times the national rate (our calculation).
- The Vancouver CMA’s rate of 351 per 100,000 was about 4.8 times the Toronto CMA’s 74 (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
- The London, Ontario CMA’s rate rose from 71 to 348 per 100,000 between 2024 and 2025, almost five times higher (our calculation).
- British Columbia’s three-year exemption for possessing small amounts of some illegal drugs expired on 31 January 2026 and will not be renewed (Government of British Columbia, checked 21 October 2026).
What counts as drug crime in Canada?
A drug violation is a police-reported offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act or the Cannabis Act, such as possession, trafficking, importation or production of an illegal substance. Statistics Canada counts these incidents separately from Criminal Code crime, so they are not part of the headline crime rate of 5,585 per 100,000.
Drug crime is different from most other offences. A break-in or a stolen car is usually reported by a victim, while drug offences mostly come to light through police work: patrols, searches and investigations. A high or rising drug violation rate can therefore reflect where and how actively police enforce drug laws, not only how much drug activity there is. Keep that in mind when comparing cities.
What is the drug crime rate in Canada?
Canada’s police-reported drug violation rate was 144 per 100,000 people in 2025, with 59,808 incidents, an increase of 11% from 2024, according to Statistics Canada. That is a small share of all crime: by our calculation, drug violations equalled about 2.6% of the 2,326,077 Criminal Code incidents recorded in 2025.
For comparison, the national rate for impaired driving (alcohol) was 129 per 100,000, break and enter 262 and shoplifting 502. The overall Crime Severity Index fell 5% to 75.0 in 2025, so drug violations moved against the national trend. Our page on the crime rate in Canada covers the full national picture.
Which cities have the most drug crime?
Lethbridge, Victoria, Vancouver and London, Ontario had the highest police-reported drug violation rates among the 11 metro areas in our table, each about 2.4 to 3 times the national rate of 144 per 100,000 in 2025, according to Statistics Canada (ratios are our calculation).
| Metro area (CMA) | Drug violations 2025 | Rate per 100,000 (2025) | Times the national rate (our calculation) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lethbridge | 616 | 435 | 3.0× |
| Victoria | 1,587 | 357 | 2.5× |
| Vancouver | 10,826 | 351 | 2.4× |
| London | 2,205 | 348 | 2.4× |
| Hamilton | 1,372 | 163 | 1.1× |
| Canada | 59,808 | 144 | 1.0× |
| Montréal | 5,299 | 114 | 0.8× |
| Calgary | 1,665 | 91 | 0.6× |
| Edmonton | 1,269 | 75 | 0.5× |
| Toronto | 5,181 | 74 | 0.5× |
| Winnipeg | 553 | 60 | 0.4× |
| Ottawa (Ont. part) | 515 | 39 | 0.3× |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01 (released 22 July 2026). Rates per 100,000 people, rounded. Our table covers the 11 metro areas for which we hold verified drug figures; other CMAs are not ranked here.
The ranking for drug crime looks very different from the ranking for overall crime. Winnipeg had the fifth-highest Crime Severity Index of Canada’s 41 metro areas (113.4) but one of the lowest drug violation rates in the table, while London’s overall index of 66.0 was below the national 75.0. See crime rate in Canada by city for the overall ranking.
Why is drug crime so high in Vancouver?
The Vancouver CMA recorded 10,826 drug violations in 2025, a rate of 351 per 100,000 and about 18% of all drug violations in Canada, although the region holds about 7% of the population (our calculation from Statistics Canada counts and rates). Drug violations equalled about 6.2% of all Criminal Code incidents in the Vancouver CMA, compared with 1.9% in the Toronto CMA.
Statistics Canada’s tables do not explain the causes. What they show is that both large B.C. metro areas in our table, Vancouver and Victoria, recorded drug violation rates about 2.5 times the national rate in 2025, the year before the province’s decriminalization exemption ended. Statistics Canada does not split these figures by type of offence in our data set, so we cannot say how much was possession and how much trafficking. Our guides is Vancouver safe? and Toronto vs Montréal vs Vancouver crime put the drug numbers next to other offences.
Is drug possession legal in British Columbia?
No. British Columbia’s exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act for personal possession of small amounts of some illegal drugs expired on 31 January 2026 and will not be renewed, according to the Government of British Columbia (page updated 29 May 2026, checked 21 October 2026).
- 31 January 2023: a three-year exemption began. Adults 18 and over carrying 2.5 grams or less of certain illegal substances for personal use were not arrested or charged, and the drugs were not seized (Health Canada).
- 7 May 2024: at B.C.’s request, Health Canada prohibited possession in public spaces. The exemption continued in private residences, places where people were lawfully sheltering, designated health care clinics, and overdose prevention and drug checking sites (Health Canada).
- 31 January 2026: the exemption expired. B.C. did not request a renewal (Government of British Columbia).
Cannabis is a separate case: it is legal for adults under the Cannabis Act, within provincial rules on age, amounts and where it can be used. For the wider provincial comparison, see most dangerous cities in BC and Alberta vs BC crime.
Is drug crime rising in Canada?
Police-reported drug violations rose 11% in Canada in 2025 to 144 per 100,000, even as the overall Crime Severity Index fell 5%, according to Statistics Canada. Two Ontario metro areas changed most sharply in our data set.
| Metro area (CMA) | Drug rate per 100,000 (2024) | Drug rate per 100,000 (2025) | Change (our calculation) |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | 71 | 348 | +386% |
| Hamilton | 81 | 163 | +100% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01. 2024 rates for other CMAs are not in our verified data set.
Statistics Canada’s tables do not explain these jumps. Because drug offences mostly come to light through police work, changes in enforcement can move the numbers quickly. Drug violations equalled about 6.9% of all incidents in the London CMA in 2025, the highest share in our table (our calculation). Read more in is London, Ontario safe? and is Hamilton safe?, and in our look at whether crime is going up in Canada.
Does a high drug crime rate make a city dangerous?
A high drug violation rate is a weak guide to personal risk, because drug offences rarely have a direct victim and their numbers depend heavily on police enforcement. For everyday safety, violent crime, break-ins and car theft say more. The Crime Severity Index weights each offence by its seriousness and is the better single measure; our Crime Severity Index explainer shows how it works.
Lethbridge shows the difference: its drug rate was three times the national rate, and its overall Crime Severity Index of 107.7 was also high, sixth of 41 metro areas. Ottawa had both the lowest drug rate in our table and the fourth-lowest severity index in Canada (50.6). Toronto, with a drug rate half the national rate, still had a higher car theft rate than Vancouver. See the Lethbridge crime rate guide for detail.
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Drug crime in Canada FAQ
How many drug crimes were there in Canada in 2025?
Canadian police recorded 59,808 drug violations in 2025, a rate of 144 per 100,000 people and 11% higher than in 2024, according to Statistics Canada.
Which Canadian city has the highest drug crime rate?
Among the metro areas in our verified data set, Lethbridge had the highest police-reported drug violation rate in 2025, at 435 per 100,000, about three times the national rate.
Is drug crime higher in Vancouver than in Toronto?
Yes. The Vancouver CMA’s 2025 drug violation rate was 351 per 100,000, about 4.8 times the Toronto CMA’s 74, even though Vancouver recorded about twice as many drug incidents from less than half the population.
Is drug decriminalization still in effect in B.C.?
No. B.C.’s exemption for possessing up to 2.5 grams of certain illegal drugs ran from 31 January 2023 and expired on 31 January 2026, and the province did not seek a renewal.
Are drug crimes included in the Canadian crime rate?
No. Statistics Canada’s headline crime rate counts Criminal Code incidents excluding traffic; drug violations under federal drug laws are counted separately but do feed into the Crime Severity Index.
Related: crime rate in Canada by city · Vancouver crime map · Lethbridge crime map · is Victoria safe? · impaired driving in Canada · Canada Crime Map. In an emergency call 911.