Drug Crime Attorneys in Clearwater, Florida

If you have been accused of or charged with drug possession, drug trafficking, or any other drug crime in Clearwater or other parts of Florida, consider contacting a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer. Regardless of the circumstances, facing a drug charge can be intimidating and overwhelming, even if you know for a fact that you are innocent.

A drug conviction in Florida can damage your reputation and affect various aspects of your life. When facing drug charges, you need to understand how to defend your rights and protect your reputation and future. Having a skilled drug crime defense attorney on your side can be crucial in getting the charges dismissed or reduced.

At The Law Offices of Hoskins and Penton, P.A., we are committed to vigorously defending your rights and fighting for the most favorable outcome in your case.

Drug Charges in Florida

Under Fla. Stat. § 893.13, it is illegal to manufacture, deliver, or sell controlled substances and possess with the intent to deliver, sell, or manufacture illegal drugs. Florida law recognizes several types of drug charges:

• Drug possession: You can be charged with drug possession if you are caught having physical control of a small quantity of an illegal drug intended for personal use.

• Drug selling or trafficking: If you have a larger quantity of a controlled substance in your possession, the charge may turn into drug trafficking.

• Drug manufacturing: If you are caught producing, preparing, processing, growing, cultivating, or in any other way manufacturing a controlled substance, you can face drug manufacturing charges in Florida.

• Prescription drug crime: You can be charged with a drug crime for illegal possession of a prescription drug.

Drug Schedules (I-V)

Drug charges and penalties are also based on the drug schedule. Under Florida law, there are five drug schedules:

• Schedule I (e.g., cannabis, LSD, heroin, MDMA, etc.) with the highest potential for abuse, no accepted use in medical treatments

• Schedule II (e.g., morphine, cocaine, opium, fentanyl, etc.) with high potential for abuse, restricted use in medical treatments

• Schedule III (e.g., ketamine, anabolic steroids, etc.) with moderate potential for abuse, accepted medical use

• Schedule IV (e.g., alprazolam, lorazepam, diazepam, etc.) with relatively low potential for abuse, widely accepted medical use

• Schedule V (stimulants and certain codeine drugs) with low potential for abuse, widely accepted use in medical treatments

Possible Penalties for Florida Drug Crimes

Penalties for drug crimes vary greatly depending on the nature of the charge, the type of controlled substance, and the quantity of the illegal drug in your possession. A drug crime can be either a misdemeanor or felony. In addition, any felony drug conviction in Florida results in a one year suspension of your drivers license.

While drug possession charges are generally not as serious as drug manufacturing or selling charges, even a possession charge can be classified as a felony depending on the quantity. If you are facing drug charges in Clearwater, Tampa, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, or other parts of Florida, consider consulting with a defense lawyer to discuss your options to get the charges dropped or reduced to avoid the penalties.