Penalties for Possessing Large Quantities of Marijuana in Fort Myers

Attitudes toward marijuana are steadily softening across the United States and in Florida. Recently, the current administration changed cannabis from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. However, this lenient stance begins to harden when people face charges for possessing large quantities of marijuana. What kind of penalties could you face if you’re caught with a large amount of weed? Could a drug crimes attorney in Fort Myers help?

Anything Above 20 Grams May Lead to a More Severe Penalty 

The general rule in Florida is that if you’re caught with more than 20 grams, you may experience more severe penalties. If you stay below this threshold, you’ll face misdemeanor charges and a maximum of one year in jail. You are unlikely to serve the full year behind bars, especially if it is your first offense. Various defense strategies are possible in this scenario, including intervention programs and plea deals.

If you are caught with more than 20 grams, you’ll face a felony charge. At this point, police officers will effectively assume that you are involved in the drug trade. As a result, the authorities will not treat you as if you are a “user.” You might describe the 20-gram limit as a legal “line” between personal use and dealing.

You Face Up to Five Years in Prison for Possessing More Than 20 Grams

If you’re caught with more than 20 grams, you’ll face a third-degree felony. The maximum penalty for this charge is five years in prison, and you could also face a $5,000 fine. Of course, the exact penalty depends on your unique circumstances and the exact amount of marijuana you possessed.

Anything between 20 grams and 25 pounds falls into the same category of a third-degree felony, so higher amounts will likely lead to longer prison terms. If you were caught with just 21 grams, it might be easier to argue that this was your “personal supply” and pursue a lighter sentence.

What About Extremely Large Quantities of Marijuana? 

It is possible to face even more severe penalties for higher quantities of marijuana. If you’re caught with more than 25 pounds, you could face up to 15 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of three years behind bars. If you’re caught with more than 2,000 pounds, you could face a 30-year prison sentence with a mandatory minimum of seven years. If you’re caught with over 10,000 pounds, you may face up to 30 years in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.

Can a Fort Myers Cannabis Defense Attorney Help Me? 

If you were caught with a large quantity of cannabis, you might want to speak with a marijuana defense attorney in Fort Myers. In this situation, you are likely to face trafficking allegations. As a result, the court will see you as a “dealer” and not a “user.” Consider expanding on this discussion with The Foley & Wilson Law Firm.

Sources: 

pbs.org/newshour/show/what-the-federal-marijuana-policy-shift-means-for-cannabis-use-and-research

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

norml.org/laws/florida-penalties/