An individual who has been charged with purchasing 10 grams or more of a controlled substance will need to seek experienced representation from a reputable law firm in order to protect their future and legal rights.
The State of Florida takes drug crimes very seriously and imposes harsh punishment on those who are convicted of drug possession and purchasing illegal drugs over 10 grams. The consequences for being convicted of a drug crime include obtaining a permanent criminal record, putting your future at risk, harming your personal and professional life, being unable to rent or buy a house, or attain a loan of any kind. This is why you must speak to a professional criminal defense attorney before making a move, as anything could be detrimental to your case.
The Law Place has over seventy-five of collective experience when it comes to fighting cases in regard to drug crimes in the State of Florida. We specialize in representing and helping clients who are facing drug-related charges – even the toughest of cases do not stand a chance when you have The Law Place on your side. We have a highly trained team of criminal defense lawyers who work tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcomes for each and every client.
If you put your faith and trust in us, then we will be sure to succeed in your case as well. We understand the pressure that you are under, and we want to be the ones to help get you through. The penalties you face will be determined by the type of drug or controlled substance that you were caught purchasing, and you must have proper representation in order to beat the charges – otherwise, you could spend years in prison and receive enormous fines.
The phone lines to our office are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Contact The Law Place now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight your purchase of illegal drugs over 10 grams charges together in Bradenton.
Which State in America Has the Harshest Illegal Drug Laws?
Everything that you need to know about the drug laws in the State of Florida is in Florida Statute 893.13.
Florida is recognized for having some of the most complex and harsh laws regarding illegal drugs, whether it is a case of drug possession, purchase, manufacturing, drug trafficking, or more. The risks are high for all kinds of drug crimes, and you must take your charges very seriously.
You could also be charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, including any instruments or equipment used to plant, cultivate, transport, sell, conceal, produce, manufacture, or store any type of controlled substance, even if you are not in actual possession of drugs.
The Five Drug Schedules
The State of Florida devised five drug schedules that descend in number, depending on how dangerous and addictive the drug in question is, according to the government.
For instance, drugs that are classed as Schedule One substances are known to be the most dangerous and addictive in nature. They also carry the longest sentences and the harshest punishments for possession and purchase, as it can result in either a third-degree felony or a first-degree felony charge.
Further information on the five drug schedules:
- Schedule I – Heroin, meth, crack cocaine, and LSD are recognized as the most dangerous and addictive drugs. They carry no medical value in mainstream medicine.
- Schedule II – Cocaine, OxyContin, methamphetamine, Adderall, and methadone are recognized as the second most dangerous and addictive drugs. They carry slight medical value, and they can even be prescribed to relevant patients on occasion.
- Schedule III – Steroids, ketamine, and selected codeine items below 90 milligrams are recognized as the medium level for danger and addiction.
- Schedule IV – Tramadol, Valium, and Xanax are recognized as the second-least dangerous and addictive drugs.
- Schedule V – Lyrica, Motfen, and codeine items below 200 milligrams are recognized as the least dangerous and addictive drugs.
We’re here to serve you. Our phones are open 24 hours a day. Penalties for Possession of Illegal Drugs
The extent of punishment for drug purchase will depend on the type and the amount of drug that was discovered in the individual’s possession.
For example:
- First-degree felony – Possession of 10 grams or more of any Schedule One drug. The penalties include spending up to 30 years in jail and receiving a fine as high as $10,000.
- Third-degree felony – Possession of 10 grams or more of any dangerous controlled substances. The penalties include spending up to 5 years in prison and receiving a fine as high as $5,000.
- First Degree misdemeanor – Possession of 20 grams of marijuana. The penalties include spending up to 1 year in prison and receiving a fine as high as $1,000. However, being in possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana is classed as a third-degree felony, which is punishable by spending up to 5 years in prison and receiving a fine as high as $5,000.
We’re Florida’s top litigation team with over 75 years of combined experience Drug Trafficking
The definition of drug trafficking is possession with the intent to sell, purchase, manufacture, deliver, or transport a controlled substance in large quantities, which violate certain statutory limitations. The charges for controlled substances will vary depending on the weight limits of the drug in question. However, drug trafficking charges almost always carry hefty fines and long sentences.
For example:
- Up to 28 grams of cocaine.
- Up to 25 pounds or 300 plants of marijuana.
- Up to 1 gram of LSD (also known as acid).
- Up to 14 grams of hydrocodone.
- Up to 7 grams of oxycodone.
- Up to 10 grams of MDMA (also known as ecstasy).
The sentences for drug trafficking range from spending up to 3 years in prison to life imprisonment, alongside receiving a fine as high as $50,000.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers. Possible Defenses Against Drug Charges
The penalties are harsh for the purchase of illegal drugs over 10 grams in the State of Florida. However, there are actions that could be taken to reduce the severity of the charges or even get the charges dismissed altogether. The first step to achieve this is to hire a skilled criminal defense attorney from The Law Place, who can possibly find a way around the mandatory minimum sentencing laws, which could prevent you from spending 3, 5, or even 30 years in prison.
The most common defense strategies that criminal defense lawyers from our law firm use include:
- You could have been deliberately entrapped by the police officers at the scene.
- You were not the one who owned the illegal drugs that were found on you.
- The police officers could have misidentified the illegal drugs.
- The evidence that is being used against you could have been retrieved in an unlawful manner, which means that the evidence would be deemed inadmissible.
- You could have been misidentified with another person who possessed and purchased the illegal drugs.
- The search warrant, which was hired to perform the seize and search of the illegal drugs, could be invalid.
- The illegal drugs could have been incorrectly weighed.
How to Choose Your Defense Attorney
You must seek professional help from a reputable law firm to represent you in court for your drug crime. Otherwise, you could be facing a lengthy prison sentence, alongside receiving hefty fines. There are plenty of law firms out there, so it is very important that you take the time to pick the right one for you.
We recommend that you look for the following qualities when you are seeking legal representation in the State of Florida:
- Trust – This is a very important factor when choosing who to represent you in court. All criminal defense lawyers abide by the attorney-client relationship privilege, which means that anything you share with your lawyer will be kept confidential. You must be able to trust and feel comfortable with your criminal defense lawyer so that they can work closely with you to build the best defense strategy for your case.
- Experience – You must consider the experience and the achievements of the law firm that you are seeking representation from so that you can feel safe knowing that your case is in capable hands. You might also want to inquire about the number of trials that they have been involved in litigating.
- Negotiation – It is essential for a criminal defense attorney to have good negotiation abilities, especially for attorneys who handle drug crimes, as they must find a way around the mandatory minimum sentencing laws. You might also want to inquire about the number of plea bargains that they have successfully accomplished.
- References – The last important factor that you must consider when seeking legal representation includes asking the law firm for their testimonials and references. It is possible that some law firms may hide a bad track record, especially if they refuse to show you their testimonials and references.
Contact The Law Place Today
If you are facing charges for purchasing illegal drugs over 10 grams, then you should expect to face harsh penalties as the State of Florida is incredibly strict when it comes to drug offenders. You must seek legal representation as soon as possible following your drug charges. Otherwise, you will suffer the life-altering consequences of being convicted for a drug crime.
The Law Place has over seventy-five years of combined experience and knowledge when it comes to tackling drug-related charges for clients in Bradenton and across the State of Florida. We have a group of criminal defense lawyers who are well-versed in drug laws and are trained to handle any kind of case that comes their way.
The laws surrounding drug crimes can seem very complex, and you will need the help of a criminal defense lawyer from The Law Place to guide you through the legal system. If you decide that our law firm is right for you, then a criminal defense lawyer will start work by investigating the accusations against you, gathering relevant evidence, negotiating with the prosecution, and building a strong defense strategy to contest your drug charges.
Reach out and speak to The Law Place today to set up a free case evaluation, where a criminal defense lawyer will discuss the specifics of your case and give you unbiased legal advice on the smartest move to make in your situation. Rest assured that we will fight to protect your legal rights and ensure a reasonable outcome for your case in Bradenton.
Our phone lines are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, so that you can call us at a time that feels comfortable for you.
Contact The Law Place now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight your purchase of illegal drugs over 10 grams charges together in Bradenton.
