Drug Crime Attorney St. Petersburg, FL

Florida Statute 893.13 governs the possession of narcotics and dictates penalties for each circumstance. The severity of a drug possession charge depends in part on the amount of the substance you have and how it’s packaged and could take into consideration where you are when arrested.

Drug possession in Florida is illegal and ranges from a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in jail to a first-degree felony carrying a minimum mandatory prison term.

Penalties for drug-related charges are determined by the substance, the amount of the substance in question, the activity the person was engaged in, and any prior encounters with law enforcement. Repeatedly committing serious crimes with large amounts of dangerous drugs is more likely to receive harsher penalties.

In Florida, simple possession is an offense by someone who did not manufacture, distribute, sell, or deal a controlled substance but kept it for personal or recreational use. Possession may be charged as a first, second, or third-degree felony or misdemeanor, based on the schedule and amount of the substance possessed.

According to Florida law, manufacturing of controlled substances involves producing, compounding, preparing, converting, or processing any drug categorized as a controlled substance. This can be through direct or indirect extraction from natural sources or by combining extraction and chemical synthesis. Punishment for the crime includes felony charges with much higher penalties and a possession charge, meaning you may accrue two or more separate felony charges with stacked penalties. Penalties for drug manufacturing depend on the classification of the substance, the amount, and where the manufacturing occurred.

Drug trafficking is the intentional sale, purchase, manufacture, delivery, possession, or transportation into the State of Florida of a “trafficking amount” of drugs. Florida law imposes a minimum threshold to support a trafficking charge, which differs for different substances. These statutory amounts represent the minimum amounts needed to charge; as the amount increases, so does the mandatory minimum sentence that will apply. Penalties will differ based on the substance and the quantity.

Paraphernalia includes possessing or advertising materials primarily for growing, storing, packaging, or using controlled substances. Charges can lead to fines and, in some cases, jail time. Driving while intoxicated refers to operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances, including prescribed medications. Charges can result in jail time, fines, and driver’s license revocation.