Across the US, states are moving toward allowing medical marijuana and decriminalizing pot for recreational uses. However, until the laws regarding marijuana possession and trafficking change, violators will still be subject to criminal penalties. If you’re charged with one of these drugs crimes, it’s important to understand the legal consequences for conviction.
Legally, marijuana DUI is analogous to driving while drunk and carries comparable penalties. Here’s what you need to know if you’ve been charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of marijuana.
The state of Florida has very strict drug laws. One of the charges that falls under that category is intent to sell. This charge is officially defined by Florida Statutes as being unlawful for an individual “to sell, manufacture, or deliver, or possess with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver, a controlled substance.” Florida also has a very detailed classification of controlled substances, which means everything from marijuana to steroids to heroin or pharmaceutical drugs can fall under this label.
Getting arrested for drug possession is never a pleasant experience. But the reason this charge can be even more scary in Miami is Florida has some of the strictest drug laws in the United States. These laws stem from the drug wave that swept the state during the 80s. Because tough laws were enacted to crack down on that activity, a simple drug possession charge in 2016 can carry surprisingly serious consequences. Even if it’s your first time being arrested for a drug offense, the consequences associated with a drug possession charge have the potential to permanently alter the course of your life. Dealing with that reality is why it’s crucial for anyone in this situation to be represented by a Miami drug crimes attorney.
If you have been convicted of a DUI and you do not know what to do next, you may be able to appeal your conviction. A successful appeal could remove the criminal offense from your record. However, there are a limited set of situations where you can appeal a DUI conviction. For a DUI appeal to succeed, there has to have been something improper done during the course of your arrest or trial.
Getting pulled over by the police can be a very stressful experience. Regardless of the specific circumstances, if you ever find yourself in this situation, there are steps you can take to put yourself in the best position possible. Here’s what you should do. From stopping to interacting with the police officer to what next, here are some helpful tips.
Although a Florida DUI charge has the potential to be very damaging to your future, it doesn’t have to be that way. While there’s no way to guarantee the outcome of this kind of legal case, there are clear steps you can take to put yourself in the best position to defend your freedom and protect your rights.
Because Florida takes such an aggressive stance towards DUI offenses and has a variety of mandatory minimums in place, being arrested for this offense can put you in the position of facing life-altering consequences. If you want to defend your freedom and protect yourself, there’s no substitute for enlisting professional legal help.