Drug Crimes Attorneys in Ocala, Florida

Unfortunately, drug charges aren’t all that uncommon in the Sunshine State. Florida has some of the most complex drug laws and harshest penalties for drug possession in the country. If you live in Ocala, Florida, or one of the neighboring areas of Marion County, Belleview, Dunnellon, or Silver Springs, and have been charged with possession, possession with intent to sell, or the distribution or manufacturing of drugs, call Defend Ocala today. You need a criminal defense attorney who understands the law and the severity of your situation.

Federal Drug Crimes in Florida

You can unknowingly be guilty of federal offenses and charged with drug trafficking if you’ve crossed into another state with a large quantity of controlled substances. Using the United States postal service to mail controlled substances and selling drugs on government property are also federal crimes. It’s important to know that although marijuana has been decriminalized in many jurisdictions on the state level, it is still a federal crime to possess, sell, cultivate, or distribute the herb.

Being charged with a federal crime is nothing to take lightly. Even the penalties you’ll face being charged by the state are strict. The state tends to focus more on possession and manufacturing.

Possession is when the person did not manufacture, distribute, or sell the substance but had it for personal use. You can also be considered in possession of the drugs if the substances are found in your vehicle or home. In some instances, Florida allows possession to be charged as a felony.

The penalties vary with intent to distribute, depending on the situation. The penalties are often more severe if you were charged with distributing to a minor or within proximity of a school.

To be accused of selling a controlled substance, you don’t actually have to receive a dollar amount as compensation. Bartering, exchanging, giving away, delivering, or manufacturing illegal substances can also find you being charged with intent to sell. Just offering to perform one of those activities can end in felony charges even if no transaction occurred.

How Are Drugs Classified in Florida?

Drugs are classified into five different categories based on their potency, medical value, and how likely the public is to misuse them. Schedule I drugs have no medical use, and the potential for abuse is high. Substances in this classification include heroin, ecstasy, and marijuana. Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse and severe psychological and physical dependence. These include Vicodin, cocaine, Adderall, and methamphetamines.

Schedule III drugs have a moderate to low potential for dependency and abuse. Substances in this category are codeine, ketamine, and testosterone. Schedule IV drugs are low on the scale of abuse dependency risk. A few examples are Xanax, Ambien, and Valium. The final classification, Schedule V has a low risk for abuse and includes Robitussin, Lyrica, and Motofen.

A drug crime conviction comes with life-altering consequences. Depending on whether you are charged with a felony or misdemeanor, a drug charge can lead to incarceration, fines totaling thousands of dollars, or probation. If you own firearms, you may have your privileges suspended or completely revoked. Have an attorney on your side who will fight to make your voice heard and vigorously defend your rights. Reach out to us, and let’s go over your case together if you’re in Ocala, Florida.