A drug possession conviction can have a serious impact on your life, and Florida courts can be aggressive in pursuing many minor drug possession charges.  In fact, any misdemeanor drug possession conviction for marijuana possession or any narcotic can result in a loss of your driver's license for up to 2 years.

Don't plead guilty to a Florida drug possession charge before speaking with a lawyer and exploring all of your defense options. You do not want to live with a criminal conviction on your record if you can avoid it, and in many cases you can.  

Florida Drug Possession - PenaltiesThe following penalties apply to drug possession charges in FL: 

Possession of Marijuana (20 grams or less) Possession of 20 grams or less of marijuana is a First Degree Misdemeanor. A 1st degree misdemeanor has a maximum penalty of 1 year in jail and a $1000 fine.   Ref: Florida Criminal Statute - §893.13(6)(b) 

Possession of Marijuana (more than 20 grams) Possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana is a Third Degree Felony. A 3rd degree felony has a maximum penalty of 5 year in jail and a $5000 fine.  Ref: Florida Criminal Statute - §893.13(6)(a)  

Possession of a Controlled Substance (Heroin, Cocaine, Ecstasy) Possession of a Controlled Substance, which could be cocaine, heroin, meth, ecstasy, or other illegal drugs is a 3rd Degree Felony. A Third degree penalty carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in jail and up to a $5000 fine.Ref: Florida Criminal Statute - §893.13(6)(a) 

Possession of More than 10 grams of Heroin Possession of more than 10 grams of Heroin (and/or most Schedule I drugs and related opiate substances as listed in §893.03(1)(a) or (1)(b) ) is a 1st Degree Felony. A first degree felony has a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.Ref: Florida Criminal Statute - §893.13(6)(c) 

Possession of an Unlawful Chemical Possession of a listed chemical with the intent to unlawfully manufacture a controlled substance is a 2nd Degree Felony. These chemicals may include ingredients to make methamphetamines, ecstasy, GHB, or other drugs. A second degree felony has a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.Ref: Florida Criminal Statute - §893.149   

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia The use, possession, manufacture, delivery or advertisement of drug paraphernalia is a 1st Degree Misdemeanor. Drug paraphernalia as defined under Florida law may include pipes, bongs, other smoking devices, spoons, needles, syringes, scales, measuring or preparation devices, containers, bags, and other items.  A first degree misdemeanor has a maximum penalty of 1 year in jail and a $1000 fine.  See §893.147, Fla. Stat. 

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