Category Archives: Drug Crimes
Federal Drug Charges In Florida
Being charged with a drug offense under Florida law is an intimidating prospect for most; the consequences can stem from a misdemeanor to a capital felony, with issues that can continue even after one has served any jail sentence they would receive. Being convicted of a drug-related offense under U.S. federal law can lead… Read More »
The Use Of Flock Cameras & ALPRs In Drug Prosecutions
Florida law sees drug offenses like possession or sale as some of the most serious nonviolent offenses that a person can commit. They are seen as crimes against society, and the sentences handed down to those convicted are among the harshest in the United States. Recently, Florida law enforcement has started to use two… Read More »
“Prior Bad Acts” Evidence In Drug Trafficking Cases
When a person faces trial for drug trafficking in Florida, they can generally assume that only the facts in their current case will be used in the trial. While this is usually true under state law, there are provisions in federal law that allow past bad acts to be admissible as evidence. If you… Read More »
Warrantless Searches & Florida Drug Arrests
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution governs what is known as search and seizure law. It states that the people should be free from illegal searches and seizures, and establishes the requirement of a warrant, which can only be granted if probable cause for a search exists. However, there are exceptions in both… Read More »
Cannabis Concentrates Are Against The Law
As of this writing, the state of Florida only allows legal cannabis consumption by those with a medical card, and only in certain forms. Cannabis can be ingested in many different ways, including via smoking or edibles, but another popular method is by ‘dabbing,’ meaning using a type of wax or concentrate. While items… Read More »
Defending Against Drug Paraphernalia Charges
When a person is arrested for drug possession, another common charge that they may face at the same time is possession of drug paraphernalia. In Florida, the definition of ‘drug paraphernalia’ is very wide, meaning that in some cases, a person may face legal issues for possessing things they had no idea might be… Read More »
My Child Has Been Charged With A Drug Crime, What Do I Do?
The most recent Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS) shows a marked downturn in drug and alcohol use among students in the state. However, minors still get caught with illicit substances at roughly the same frequency, and just like with adults, they tend to be prosecuted harshly. Florida handles drug-related cases extremely aggressively, and… Read More »
Sentencing Enhancements In Florida Drug Cases
In U.S. criminal law, a sentencing enhancement is a factor that increases the potential prison sentence for an offense based on who committed it, against whom it was committed, and how it was committed. Sentencing enhancements exist because certain crimes involve greater threats to society or greater evidence of moral guilt is manifested by… Read More »
Arrested For Drug Possession – But I Live Out Of State
While it happens far more often during spring break and summer vacation, tourists who come to Florida for vacation will sometimes run afoul of the law. One of the most common reasons this occurs is that they get caught with a controlled substance – from cannabis to prescriptions, all of it counts as unlawful… Read More »
The Evolution Of Florida’s “Plain Smell” Doctrine
In October 2025, Florida’s Second District Court of Appeals heard a case which struck down the state’s so-called “plain smell doctrine.” This was an unwritten rule which held that the mere smell of cannabis was sufficient probable cause for law enforcement to search a person or their vehicle for drugs. However, as the law… Read More »