Pumphrey Law Florida Leon County Criminal Defense Lawyers Drug Charges in Leon County

Drug Charges in Leon County

A drug charge can be a terrifying and life-changing experience. Aside from serious criminal punishments, drug charges can potentially affect future job and housing applications. Drug charges in Leon county are usually felonies or misdemeanors according to Florida law, but also qualify as federal offenses. If charged by the U.S. government, a person could face steep minimum sentences and millions of dollars in fines. Last year at least 1,657 arrests were made for drug charges in Leon County,[1] up from 1,415 in 2015.[2]

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Potential Drug Charges

Drug charges in Leon County include a range of offenses, from misdemeanors to serious felonies. Federal felony offenses can carry harsher penalties. Florida drug offenses are primarily listed in the Florida Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act in Florida Statutes § 893.13. Some examples of drug charges are:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance
  Either actual or constructive possession of an illegal or prohibited substance
• Illegal Possession of Prescription Drug
  Either actual or constructive possession of prescription drugs without a prescription or in an amount in excess of prescription
• Possession with Intent to Sell
  Possession, actual or constructive of a controlled substance in an amount indicating intent to sell or distribute to someone
• Drug Trafficking
  “Trafficking” is large-scale manufacturing, transportation or sale operations
• Marijuana Possession
  Despite its growing acceptance nationwide, possession of marijuana that is not obtained with a prescription is still a state offense here in Leon County
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
  Involves possession of drug paraphernalia such as bongs, pipes, and needles

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Florida’s Drug Schedule

Drugs in Florida are classified between Schedule I to Schedule V. The classification is based on the potential for abuse, medical use and the results of abuse, according to Florida Statutes § 893.03.

• Schedule I drugs have the highest abuse potential and no acknowledged medical use.
• Schedule II drugs have high abuse potential and limited accepted medical use.
• Schedule III-V drugs have a lower abuse potential and an accepted medical use.

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Penalties for Drug Possession Charges in Florida

If you are convicted of a drug crime, the penalty will depend upon the charge Florida Statute § 893.13 describes criminal penalties for various charges in Leon County., :

Felony

• 1^st – Up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000
• 2^nd – Up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000
• 3^rd – Up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000

Misdemeanor

• 1^st – Up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000
• 2^nd – Up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500

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Drug Resources

• Rachel Hoffman – A Drug War Tragedy
  Article written by NORML Deputy Director, Paul Armentano, published by Cannabis Culture issue # 72 in Fall 2008. On May 7, 2008, 23-year-old Florida State University student, Rachel Hoffman, was killed in a botched police sting operation while working as a confidential informant for the Tallahassee Police Department. She was killed with the weapon she was supposed to buy and robbed of the police money.
• Florida Alcohol & Drug Abuse Association
  FADAA is a non-profit organization representing drug abuse and treatment centers throughout Florida.

  FADAA Headquarters
  2868 Mahan Drive, Suite 1
  Tallahassee, Florida 32308
  (850) 878-2196

• Federal Drug Penalties
  The Drug Enforcement Administration’s page about federal penalties for possessing, trafficking and distributing controlled substances.

See Past Leon County Drug Case Results

Take a look at some outcomes and case results in Leon County drug cases we have handled recently.

• Possession and sale of controlled substance: CHARGES DROPPED
• Marijuana Distribution: NOT GUILTY
• Possession of Marijuana w/ Intent to Distribute: DISMISSED

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Finding A Tallahassee Drug Defense Lawyer

If you have been caught in a Tallahassee drug bust or charged with a drug offense in Leon County, contact Pumphrey Law to discuss the facts of your particular situation. There may be defenses to your charge, and finding an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Tallahassee who is familiar with Florida drug laws might be your best option to avoid severe punishment.

The attorneys at Pumphrey Law will aggressively fight for your defense, and may be able to reduce your charges or have them dismissed. Contact us at (850) 681-7777 for a consultation.

[1] Arrest Totals and Index Arrests by County, 2016, Florida Department of Law Enforcement 4, https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/FSAC/Documents/PDF/arr_cnty16.aspx.

[2] Arrest Totals and Index Arrests by County, 2015, Florida Department of Law Enforcement 4, https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/FSAC/Documents/PDF/arr_cnty15.aspx. 

This article was last updated on December 11, 2017