Florida law contains several criminal statutes for illegal drugs. The law categorizes drugs into different classes based on federal schedules.
The penalties for conviction range in severity depending on the drug class and the type of crime. One of the most serious drug crimes in Florida is drug trafficking.
Movement of illegal substances
The law against drug trafficking prohibits selling, purchasing or transporting an illegal drug in Florida. The minimum sentence on a drug trafficking charge is three years in jail and a fine of at least $25,000. The amount of jail time and fine depends on the substance and the amount. For larger quantities of drugs, the penalty ranges up to 25 years in jail and a fine of $750,000. A Florida drug trafficking conviction is for a first-degree felony.
Manufacture of drugs
Florida law also prohibits the manufacture of any illegal substances in the quantities specified under the statute. The mixing of drugs with compounds is also barred.
Possession of drugs
The drug trafficking statute in Florida defines possessing a certain amount of drugs as trafficking. The amount required for possession to become trafficking depends on the type of substance. For a prosecutor to charge trafficking for marijuana possession, the police need to find a person with 25 pounds of marijuana. However, possession of 28 grams of cocaine is enough for a drug trafficking charge to apply.
Drug trafficking is not just charged against persons who actively manufacture, sell and distribute drugs. A person can also face a drug trafficking charge for possessing and controlling an illegal substance.