Florida Drug Laws and Penalties

Contact a Miami Drug Attorney Today

If you have been accused of a drug crime in the state of Florida, you could be facing serious consequences if you’re convicted. Florida takes drug crimes extremely seriously, and it’s not uncommon for prosecutors to seek the harshest possible penalties against those who are convicted. If you’ve been arrested and are awaiting trial, you may be wondering what penalties you could be facing for your charges. The penalties listed here are general guidelines, so it’s strongly encouraged you contact a Miami drug crimes attorney as soon as possible to get counsel that’s tailored specifically to your case.

At Hager & Schwartz, P.A. we know how serious the charges against you are, and we have fought against drug crime charges for numerous clients. As former State Prosecutors, we have a unique insight into how your prosecution will approach your case, and we use this knowledge to develop an effective and hard-hitting criminal defense that puts our clients’ rights and needs at the forefront of their case. We have earned recognition from a number of prestigious sources, including receiving an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and holding a perfect 10.0 Superb rating from Avvo.

Accused of a drug crime? Call Hager & Schwartz, P.A. at (305) 330-1360 for a case evaluation as soon as possible!

Penalties for Drug Crimes in Florida

In Florida, the nature of the penalties you face will vary greatly depending on several factors, including the type of substance involved, how much of it you have, where the crime occurred, and what your intentions were in committing the crime. For example, someone with possession of a particular drug will face stiffer penalties, but those caught selling the substance will face even more harsh ones.

Drugs are sorted into a variety of controlled substance schedules, which are influenced by how dangerous a drug is in terms of its addiction risk and whether or not it has any accepted medical uses. Schedule IV drugs are generally considered the least severe due to their widely-accepted uses while Schedule I substances are considered the most dangerous.

Drug schedules in Florida include the following:

• Schedule I: commonly includes LSD and heroin, but what’s shocking to many people is that marijuana is considered a Schedule I substance under Florida law
• Schedule II: This schedule often includes PCP, cocaine, opioids, and certain types of methamphetamines
• Schedule III: This schedule includes a number of high-risk and often-abused drugs that do have accepted medical uses, such as codeine and anabolic steroids
• Schedule IV: This includes drugs which are often obtained fraudulently through crimes like prescription fraud, such as Xanax or Valium.

Are Drug Crimes a Misdemeanor or Felony in FL?

Drug crimes can be considered either a misdemeanor or a felony offense, with the majority of crimes fitting into the felony category. Misdemeanor offenses will usually carry a fine of up to 12 months in prison and a fine of around $1,000 for a conviction, whereas felony charges often go well beyond this one-year sentence with some of the most serious charges carrying decades’ worth of prison time and fines that can exceed $10,000 or more! Most drug crimes also have a mandatory minimum sentence when they reach the felony level, which could range from a minimum prison sentence to large fines.

Have you been accused of a drug crime? Contact Hager & Schwartz, P.A. online now by sending us a message and let us help you fight back against your charges!