Florida Drug Convictions have Life-Altering Penalties, according to a South Florida Criminal Defense Attorney
When it comes to drug crimes, Florida has some pretty harsh penalties that include hefty fines, serious jail or prison time, and even losing your driver's license.
Depending on your Florida Drug Possession or Drug Trafficking charge, you could be looking at anywhere from 1 year in jail and a $1,000 fine all the way up to 15 or even 30 years in Florida State prison and a $750,000 fine.
That’s why you need an excellent criminal defense attorney defending your rights and - more importantly - your freedom.
It's even possible to get a DUI (driving under the influence) charge in South Florida if you're found to have been driving with any influence of drugs.
Drug Possession Penalties in Florida:
The penalties for a conviction of drug possession in the state of Florida are very dependent on the specific facts and circumstances of the individual case. Drug possession involves having one or more illegal drugs in your possession, either for your own personal use or for distribution, sale, or for others.
The below guidelines detail the maximum drug possession penalties in Florida depending on the amount of the particular substance you’re allegedly found in possession of.
Weed/Cannabis Possession Penalties in Florida
Possession of Weed in Florida is either a First-Degree Misdemeanor or a Third-Degree Felony in Florida depending on the amount of weed.
If you’re convicted of possessing less than 20 grams of Cannabis, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Misdemeanor. You can face up to 1 year in jail, 1 year of probation, and a $1,000 fine.
If convicted of possession of 20 grams or more of Cannabis, you’re guilty of a Third-Degree Felony. You can face up to 5 years in prison, 5 years of probation, and a $5,000 fine.
Cocaine Possession Penalties in Florida
If convicted of possessing less than 28 grams of Cocaine, you’re guilty of a Third-Degree Felony in Florida and can face up to 5 years in prison, 5 years of probation, and a $5,000 fine.
Heroin Possession Penalties in Florida
If convicted of possessing less than 4 grams of Heroin, you’re guilty of a Third-Degree Felony in Florida and can face up to 5 years in prison, five 5 of probation, and a $5,000 fine.
Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) Possession Penalties in Florida
If convicted of possessing fewer than 14 grams of Methamphetamine, you’re guilty of a Third Degree Felony in Florida and can face up to 5 years in prison, 5 years of probation, and a $5,000 fine.
Oxycodone Possession Penalties in Florida
If convicted of possessing less than 7 grams of Oxycodone, you’re guilty of a Third Degree Felony in Florida and can face up to 5 years in prison, 5 years of probation, and a $5,000 fine.
Xanax Possession Penalties in Florida
If convicted of possessing any amount of Xanax without a doctor’s prescription, you’re guilty of a Third-Degree Felony in Florida and can face up to 5 years in prison, 5 years of probation, and a $5,000 fine.
Synthetic Drugs Possession Penalties in Florida
If convicted of possessing less than 3 grams of Synthetic Drugs, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Misdemeanor in Florida and can face up to 1 year in jail, 1 year of probation, and a $1,000 fine.
If you’re convicted of possessing more than 3 grams of Synthetic Drugs, you’re guilty of a Third-Degree Felony in Florida and can face up to 5 years in prison, 5 years of probation, and a $5,000 fine.
*For all of these crimes a judge could choose to impose probation depending on the case, but the judge can also choose to sentence you to the maximum length of time in Jail or Prison that the Florida statute allows.
Drug Trafficking Penalties in Florida:
The penalties for a conviction of drug trafficking in the state of Florida are very dependent on the specific facts and circumstances of the individual case. Drug Trafficking generally is defined as the intentional sale, purchase, manufacture, delivery, possession, or transportation into Florida with a certain amount of drugs that are considered the “trafficking limit.”
The below guidelines detail the maximum drug trafficking penalties in Florida depending on the amount of the particular substance(s) you’re allegedly found trafficking.
Weed/Cannabis Trafficking Penalties in Florida
If convicted of drug trafficking between 25 and 1,999 pounds of Cannabis, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 3 years in prison, and a $25,000 fine.
If convicted of drug trafficking between 2,000 and 9,999 pounds of Cannabis, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
If convicted of trafficking more than 10,000 pounds of Cannabis, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a $200,000 fine.
*In all of the above cases the judge can impose a maximum of up to 30 years in prison.
Cocaine Trafficking Penalties in Florida
If convicted of drug trafficking between 28 and 199 grams of Cocaine, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum of 3 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
If convicted of drug trafficking between 200 and 400 grams of Cocaine, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
If convicted of drug trafficking between 400 grams and 149 kilograms of Cocaine, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
*In all of the above cases the judge can impose a maximum of up to 30 years in prison.
Heroin Trafficking Penalties in Florida
If convicted of drug trafficking between 4 and 14 grams of Heroin, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum of 3 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
If convicted of drug trafficking between 14 and 28 grams of Heroin, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
If convicted of drug trafficking between 28 grams and 30 kilograms of Heroin, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
If convicted of drug trafficking more than 30 kilograms of Heroin, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face life in prison and a $500,000 fine.
Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) Trafficking Penalties in Florida
If convicted of drug trafficking between 14 and 28 grams of Methamphetamine, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum of 3 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
If convicted of drug trafficking between 28 and 200 grams of Methamphetamine, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
If convicted of drug trafficking more than 200 grams of Methamphetamine, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Oxycodone Trafficking Penalties in Florida
If convicted of drug trafficking between 7 and 14 grams of Oxycodone, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum of 3 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
If convicted of trafficking between 14 and 25 grams of Oxycodone, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
If convicted of drug trafficking between 25 and 100 grams of Oxycodone, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.
If convicted of drug trafficking between 100 grams and 30 kilograms of Oxycodone, you’re guilty of a First-Degree Felony in Florida and will face a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.
Mandatory minimums in Florida
Mandatory minimums are also very serious because they are day-for-day sentences. Meaning, you are not going to get credit for time served, you’re not getting out of prison early for ‘good behavior’ or any other reason if you’re convicted of a crime with a mandatory minimum in Florida.
Additional Drug Crime Penalties in Florida
If you are convicted of ANY drug crime in Florida YOU WILL LOSE YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE FOR AT LEAST SIX Months. We know how difficult it is to be without a license in South Florida. You’re looking at some hefty Uber or Lyft bills, a time-consuming public transportation system, and a lot of walking.
With penalties this severe, you need an excellent criminal defense attorney with drug crime experience on your side working hard to get you the best results possible.
At Rossen Law Firm, we offer a free initial strategy session to anyone in need of our services. We listen to exactly what happened to you, discuss the results you’re looking to see, and put together a strategy of how to best achieve them.
Schedule your free strategy session today to see how we can help you.
Give us a call:
- Fort Lauderdale: (754) 206-6200
- Sunrise: (754) 999-2499
- Boca Raton: (561) 880-8181
HOW WE WIN DRUG CRIME CASES IN SOUTH FLORIDA
- Learn how we got Felony cocaine charge DROPPED in 1 MONTH in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
- See how we got an Oxycodone Possession Case Dismissed in Pembroke Pines, FL
- Learn how Rossen Law Firm got multiple charges of Possession of Marijuana, Drug Paraphernalia & Driving on a Suspended License dismissed in Plantation, Florida.