Florida Drug Charges Are Serious

If one reads the news, they can see coverage of drug busts on most days of the week. However, what many are unaware of is that a ‘drug bust’ can encompass several different drug offenses. If someone is charged with a drug crime in Florida, they may not be aware of how varied Florida drug crimes can be and how seriously they are taken.

Seen As Crimes Against Society

Florida has a long history with drug trafficking and the illegal sale of substances, going back to Prohibition and ‘rum-running’ from the Caribbean islands. Organized crime and foreign cartels, along with the “pill mills” of the 1990s and 2000s, established an unfortunate pattern of buying, selling, and trafficking in drugs that law enforcement still struggles to root out.

Because of this history, Florida law enforcement sees drug crimes as harmful not just to users, but to society as a whole, particularly children. As a result, Florida’s drug laws are among the harshest in the United States – for example, depending on the specific circumstances, it is possible (though admittedly unlikely) for a person to be charged with possession of drug paraphernalia if they have innocuous items like bowls or postage scales.

Potentially Serious Consequences

If you are charged with a drug offense in Florida, know that it is not something you can take with the proverbial grain of salt, even if the charge is simple possession. Florida has mandatory minimum sentences, which means that regardless of your status as a first-time offender or the non-violent nature of your offense, you will be sentenced to a certain jail term if convicted. For example, if you are convicted of possessing more than 4 grams of any prescription painkiller, like Vicodin or Oxycodone, you will face at least 4 years in prison and a $50,000 fine, though the judge may sentence you to more.

In addition to the mandatory minimum sentences, drug offenses in Florida are among those which generally cannot be expunged from one’s criminal record, with certain exceptions for nonviolent misdemeanors. This means that in the future, anyone doing a background check may be able to see the conviction. A future job or place to live could be affected.

Contact A West Palm Beach Drug Crimes Attorney

While some drug charges are seen as more serious than others, no criminal charge should ever be taken lightly. If you are facing drug charges, a West Palm Beach drug crimes attorney from Perlet & Shiner, P.A. may be able to help get you through the legal process. Call our office today to speak to an attorney.

Source:

miaminewtimes.com/news/sixty-years-before-the-cocaine-cowboys-miami-was-the-wild-west-of-prohibition-8269399