In Jacksonville, Florida, charges for drug crimes are some of the harshest in the country. If you’ve been caught possessing or trafficking drugs, you could be facing jail time, fines, and other penalties. By contacting an experienced drug crimes attorney, like those at Smith & Eulo, you’ll be choosing your best shot at minimizing any penalties that may be incurred against you after you’ve been arrested for drug charges.
Florida drug crimes can be split into two categories. Possession means you were caught with a controlled substance. Trafficking is the most serious drug offense, and can happen if you’re caught selling, transporting, or importing drugs. Some acts that you can be charged with that result in drug charges are:
- Illegally possessing or transporting controlled substances
- Illegally growing marijuana
- Unlawfully manufacturing drugs
- Conspiring to commit drug crimes
- Driving under the influence of illegal drugs
What are drug Schedules?
Florida Statutes Section 893.13 prohibits citizens from illegally manufacturing, selling, possessing, or trafficking drugs and controlled substances. The Controlled Substance act organizes drugs into schedules based off of their medicinal usefulness, potential for misuse, safety, and addictiveness.
Schedule I
These drugs do not serve any medical use and have a high potential for drug abuse. Examples would be heroin, LSD, and ecstasy.
Schedule II
These drugs can be used medicinally, but under strict doctor’s supervision. The general public does not have access to them, and they have a high potential for drug abuse. Examples would be cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, oxycodone, and PCP.
Schedule III
These drugs have a moderate potential of leading to drug abuse. Examples would be anabolic steroids, testosterone, vicodin, tylenol, ketamine, and codeine.
Schedule IV
These drugs are commonly given out by doctors to treat sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression. They have a low to moderate chance of abuse. Examples would be Xanax, valium, ambien, ativan, and soma.
Schedule V
These drugs are over the counter, but they normally contain some type of narcotic.They have a low chance of addition, and are generally used to treat colds, aches, pain, and coughs. Examples would be Robitussin, Lyrica, and Parepectolin.
What are the penalties for drug charges?
Penalties for drug crimes can be a misdemeanor or a felony, and will depend on the type of drugs you had, how much you had, and your history of other drug crimes. You can expect the following jail time with these common drug amounts:
10 Years in Jail
Heroin: 1 kilogram
Cocaine: 5 kilograms
Marijuana: 1000 kilograms or more
Cocaine mixtures: 280 grams or more
PCP: 100 grams or more
PCP Mixtures: 1 kilogram or more
LSD Mixtures: 10 grams or more
Mixtures with N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl] propanamide: 400 grams or more
Meth and meth-related drugs: 50 grams or more
Meth Mixtures: 500 grams or more
5 to 40 Years in Jail
Heroin: 100 grams
Cocaine: 500 grams
Cocaine Mixtures: 28 grams or more
PCP: 10 grams or more
PCP Mixtures: 100 grams or more
LSD: 1 gram or more
Marijuana: 100 kilograms
Meth and Meth-related substances: 5 grams or more
N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl] propenamide mixtures: 40 grams or more
Experienced Drug Charge Lawyers in Jacksonville
By working with an attorney, they can ensure the minimal amount of charges possible for your situation. They’ll analyse the legality of the law officer’s producers when they searched your person, car, or house, and they’ll also investigate their arresting procedures.
The team of lawyers at Smith & Eulo have a combined 20+ years of experience with the Florida court systems. You can rest assured that by working with Smith & Eulo, you’ll be treated with justice and fairness.
Here are some additional legal resources in the Jacksonville area to help you navigate your legal situation.
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