Hollywood Drug Crime Lawyer

Aggressively Defending Your Rights

Florida’s drug-related crimes can represent serious or minor offenses. A drug charge can affect your standing at work or other relationships, which highlights the need for effective legal representation. If you’re facing charges for a drug-related crime in Hollywood, contact the drug crime attorneys at Fischer Redavid PLLC and let us defend your rights.

Types of Florida Drug Crimes

There are many types of drug-related crimes in Florida, from simple possession and possession with intent to sell to manufacturing, trafficking, and distribution. The potential punishments regarding these crimes depend on the amount of drugs on your person as well as the class of drug: controlled, narcotic, or marijuana.

Simple Possession Crimes

Simple possession charges are less serious, though the penalties may depend on the class of drug on your person. The state may charge any individual with possession if he or she has any amount of illicit drugs on his or her person. Illicit drugs may include cocaine, narcotics without a valid prescription, PCP, heroin, methamphetamines, or amphetamines.

Possession with Intent to Sell

If you have a larger amount of drugs in your possession, you may face charges of possession with intent to sell. These are more serious charges than those of simple possession. Under Florida law, a prosecutor may pursue possession with intent to sell if you have a drug outlined on the DEA’s schedule of controlled substances on your person at the time of the arrest. However, a prosecutor will only pursue these charges if he or she has reason to believe that you were going to distribute them (usually determined by the amount on your person, or the presence of scales and other equipment in your car, home, etc.).

Recreational and Medical Marijuana Crimes

Florida law allows for medical marijuana use, effective in 2017, but there are still some restrictions. The medical marijuana law only applies to those patients with a valid doctor’s prescription, and you may only purchase medical marijuana through an approved dispensary. It is still unlawful for anyone without a valid prescription card to possess or consume marijuana, which is a schedule I drug. Possession of marijuana may lead to misdemeanor or felony penalties, depending on the nature of the accusation.

Requirements for a Drug Possession Charge

Florida law can only charge and convict people with a drug possession charge when all the following apply:

• Officers find you in possession of a controlled or illicit substance
• You have it in your possession unlawfully (for example, without a valid prescription)
• You knew the nature of the possession was illegal
• You had “control” of the drug in question. This is easiest to establish when a police officer finds drugs on your person, not in a car or residence

Possible Penalties for Drug-Related Crimes

Florida penalties for drug crimes vary widely based on the nature of the crime and prior criminal history. Drug-related charges like manufacturing and distributing carry more serious penalties than simple possession or possession of paraphernalia. Some crimes may involve misdemeanor offenses, while others involve second- or third-degree felonies, depending on the type of drug involved and your intention.

Even misdemeanor offenses can lead to penalties that affect your daily life. These charges can lead to fines and time in state prison, depending on the nature of the charge. More serious crimes such as trafficking, possession with intent to sell, and manufacturing can lead to felony charges, federal prosecution, and jail time.

If you’re facing drug-related charges in Florida, you need help from an experienced criminal defense attorney. The Hollywood drug crime lawyers at Fischer Redavid PLLC will defend your rights during the process and work for a sentence reduction whenever possible. Contact us today to discuss your legal options.