Penalties for Selling Weed to School Children in Fort Myers

If you are familiar with marijuana laws in Florida, you may be aware that selling 20 grams or less of marijuana is a first-degree misdemeanor rather than a felony. Based on this information, you might assume that as long as you keep your transactions relatively small, you can avoid felony charges for selling marijuana in the Sunshine State. But what happens if you sell marijuana to schoolchildren? This could lead to more serious charges, and you might need help from an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Fort Myers.

Selling Marijuana to a Minor Is a Felony

Because of marijuana’s status as a Schedule I drug in Florida, selling this controlled substance to a minor is a felony offense. If you are convicted of selling marijuana to a minor, you could face over a decade in prison. The only requirement is that you were older than 18 at the time of the alleged offense, and the buyer was under the age of 18.

Selling Marijuana on or Near School Grounds Is a Felony

You could face up to 15 years in prison for selling marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school or college in Florida. Note that the buyer does not necessarily need to be a minor to trigger this charge. The only requirement is that the transaction occurred near a school, regardless of the ages of the alleged buyers.

You Could Face Both Charges for Selling Marijuana to a Student

Note that these two charges are not mutually exclusive. In other words, you could face both charges for selling marijuana to a minor in Florida. For example, you might have sold marijuana to a 17-year-old within 1,000 feet of a high school in Fort Myers. If this is the case, you could potentially face two felonies and up to 30 years in prison.

The Quantity of the Sold Marijuana Doesn’t Matter

It is also worth noting that, unlike other charges related to the sale of marijuana, the quantity of the cannabis transferred does not even factor into the equation. For example, you might have sold half a gram of cannabis to a high school student a few blocks down from their school. In this situation, you could still face two felonies and up to 30 years behind bars.

How Do I Defend Myself? 

You have various options when it comes to defense strategies in this situation. You could pursue a plea deal, especially if you believe that certain mitigating circumstances apply to your case. You might also challenge the evidence, including the drug evidence, officer testimony, and eyewitness testimony. Finally, you might be able to challenge the ages of the individuals involved (including you).

Can a Fort Myers Marijuana Defense Lawyer Help Me? 

A Fort Myers marijuana defense lawyer may be able to help if you have been accused of selling cannabis to schoolchildren. This is a serious offense in Florida, perhaps more serious than many realize. The chances of felony penalties could be high, and it makes sense to approach your defense in an organized, effective manner. Do so with The Foley & Wilson Law Firm.

Sources:

 norml.org/laws/florida-penalties/

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0800-0899/0893/Sections/0893.13.html