Doctor, Pulled Over With Car Reeking Of Marijuana, Charged With 4 Felony Drug Possession Charges

The Charges

Columbia County, FL. Our client, a medical doctor, was recklessly driving and passing in and out of traffic in an unsafe manner, almost striking other vehicles. The arresting officer smelled a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. After a search of the vehicle, the officer found 4 different controlled substances, all of which were prescription drugs that did not belong to our client. In addition, the officer found 10 grams of marijuana and a pipe.

Felony Drug Charges

Florida has some of the strictest drug penalties of any state within the nation. Drug possession and drug distribution are highly prosecuted as law enforcement takes these as very serious issues. The controlled substance list does not include medical marijuana in Florida. In this case, less than 20 grams of marijuana is not considered a felony charge, but it is still punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

Penalties for drug possession include the following:

• Possession of more than 10 grams of any Schedule I drug is a first-degree felony, which is punishable by up to 30 years in jail, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
• Possession of any other CDS is punishable as a third-degree felony, which is punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
• Possession of up to 20 grams of marijuana is a misdemeanor in the first degree, which is punishable by up to one year in prison, up to a $1,000 fine, or both.
• More than 20 grams of marijuana is a third-degree felony, which is punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. 

If an individual has previous drug charges, they should expect more extreme charges than noted above. Along with the above charges, there could be probation periods, a suspension of your driver’s license, and more. A person that is using public housing will most likely have to forfeit this. Drug charges can also make it hard for a person to get a job, and it could also cause individuals to lose their jobs. Financial aid and professional licenses could also be jeopardized if such drug charges come against you

Musca Law Firm

Musca Law Firm is a firm that has over 150 years of combined experience among our team of dedicated attorneys. We pride ourselves in our aggressive criminal defense approach and positive outcomes for our clients. We accept both state and federal cases, and we serve the entire state of Florida with offices in multiple cities for your convenience. We will defend your name like you are a member of our family. We work hard to find holes in the prosecution’s case, and we are not afraid to negotiate aggressively to protect your best interests.  Call us today at (888) 484-5057 for a free initial consultation with one of our experienced attorneys. 

RESULT: Our client was charged with 4 felony drug charges. After diligently negotiating with the ASA (Assistant State Attorney), our client was not convicted on either of the drug charges!