If you were caught by a law enforcement officer red handed with drugs on your person, you may be thinking “I’m guilty, why do I even need to bother retaining a criminal defense lawyer?”  What you may not be aware of is that regardless of the evidence the prosecution superficially seems to wield against you, you possess many options other than to automatically issue a guilty plea.  A criminal defense attorney can outline these options for you, and help you to secure a lesser penalty, or even have

In Florida, there are three main categories of drug crimes considered by law enforcement.  These include in increasing level of severity: drug possession, sale of drugs and drug trafficking. Possession is the most common drug offense, and also the least serious.  To obtain a conviction for drug possession, prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had physical or constructive possession of the drug in question.  Usually, this means that the drugs must be found on the su

Being arrested for on suspicion of a drug crime can be a terrifying ordeal.  However it is important to bear in mind that an arrest does not equate to a conviction for a drug crime.  If you have been arrested, it is important to keep calm and think rationally about your situation. Even if you are caught with an illicit substance on your person or otherwise with your possession, you are not necessarily without recourse.  Police officers and prosecutors must meet a certain burden of evidence befor

Only a few crimes relating to drugs constitute misdemeanors.  These include: Possession of an amount of marijuana less than 20 grams Possession of drug paraphernalia

Almost all drug crimes are either second or third degree felonies in Florida.  This includes: Possession of marijuana in amount greater than 25 grams Possession of cocaine Possession of a controlled substance (per drug schedule guidelines) Possession with intent to sell Prescription forgery Drug trafficking of any scheduled substance Possession or sale of any drug within 1,000 feet of a school, church, public park, movie theater or convenience store Cultivation of marijuana

Drug crime penalties vary based on the substance involved, the nature of the crime and the amount of the substance.  Following is a summary of penalties for some of the more common drug charges: Possession Marijuana (less than 20 grams) Fine up to $1,000 and/or 1 year in jail Cocaine (less than 28 grams) Fine up to $5,000 and/or 5 years in jail MDMA/Ecstasy (less than 10 grams) Fine up to $5,000 and/or 5 years in jail Possession w/ Intent to Sell Marijuana (20 grams to 25 lbs.) Fine up to $1,000

If you have been charged with a drug crime, you are probably considering whether or not to retain the services of a criminal defense attorney. An attorney specializing in drug crime defense can immensely benefit your case. They bring expertise in the specific issues you will be facing during the course of your trial that a public defender or generalist attorney may not possess. A local drug crime defense attorney is intimately knowledgeable about local, state and federal laws and procedures rela

In your day-to-day life, you likely encounter periodic legal questions or issues.  If you’ve ever been issued a parking ticket, if you’re considering getting married, if you’re considering starting a business, if you’re conducting plans for when you pass away, you have encountered an issue that has legal implications.  In many cases, you can resolve these issues on your own and the assistance of an attorney is not necessary.  However, in others, consulting with a lawyer may prove extremely valua

The list of controlled substances in Florida and on Federal rosters is long, however there are a handful of substances that recurrently find themselves the subject of drug crime litigation. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit substance in the United States. Although moves have been made in states like California to legitimize its use for medical purposes, in Florida it is still 100% illegal to possess, distribute, cultivate, traffic in or otherwise deal with Marijuana. Possession of any

Drug trafficking involves the transport and commercial exchange of drugs and other illicit substances, chemicals and equipment used to manufacture drugs, and other paraphernalia involved in the creation, trade and use of drugs. Typically, a prosecutor’s decision to issue a charge of drug trafficking against a defendant is dependent on the amount of the substance found in their possession. As the amount of a given substance in an individual’s possession increases in the graduated spectrum of drug