Florida Penalties for Mailing Marijuana
There are a lot of different types of drug offenses in Florida. For example, when a person mails marijuana or another illicit substance, serious penalties can follow. After an arrest, there are many details to review, including whether the charge is a misdemeanor or a felony.
If you have been charged with a drug crime, connect with an experienced Clearwater criminal defense lawyer in order to protect your rights and develop a defense strategy.
Amount of Marijuana and Criminal Consequences
The penalties for mailing marijuana in Florida are impacted by the amount of marijuana involved in the offense. For instance, if you are convicted of mailing marijuana and the amount was less than 20 grams, the offense is a first-degree misdemeanor, which can lead to penalties of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
But if the amount of marijuana involved is higher, say between 20 grams and 25 pounds, the offense escalates past a misdemeanor and becomes a third-degree felony, which can result in up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
From there, marijuana amounts beyond 25 pounds come with even harsher consequences. If the amount of marijuana is between 25 and 2,000 pounds, the offense is a second-degree felony and up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 are possible. When the offense involves more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana, the offense is a first-degree felony, leading to up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $200,000.
Possible Defense Strategies
It is normal to feel overwhelmed and scared when facing charges for mailing marijuana, but when you meet with a seasoned attorney, they can inform you of possible defense strategies. Which way to fight the charges will depend on the details of your case, but could include one or more of the following.
- The search was illegally performed. If the officials who obtained the marijuana did so by conducting an illegal search and seizure, the evidence could be inadmissible.
- You were unaware of the contents of a package. When a lack of knowledge defense is possible, your attorney will assert that you should not be held responsible.
- Coerced by law enforcement. In some situations, law enforcement coerces individuals into mailing a package that contains drugs. This is entrapment.
- Marijuana was medicinal. If you have a valid medical marijuana prescription and the package contains medical use marijuana, a lawyer could assert criminal charges should not apply.
Your Clearwater criminal defense lawyer will look over all of the evidence used to support the charges you are facing, along with how that evidence was acquired, and determine what defense strategy could be used to protect your future.
Has a marijuana charge upset your life? Talk to the legal team at King Law Group about your options forward. With the right legal representation, you may be able to fight the charges and avoid the most severe penalties. Schedule your free consultation today.
