Penalties for Marijuana in Florida

You may have heard the buzz about how states, such as California, Nevada, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Oregon, Alaska, Maine, Vermont, New York, and Mississippi have decriminalized recreational use of marijuana by adults, and believe me, marijuana advocates are pushing for more states to follow suit.

While the above states have made sweeping changes in their laws regarding recreational marijuana, the majority of U.S. states, including Florida, have yet to pass such laws. In Florida, it’s still illegal to possess marijuana, even if it’s less than an ounce for personal use.

For Floridians who smoke pot or enjoy “edibles,” here’s what they need to know:

• Possession of 20 grams or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
• Possession of 20 grams to 25 pounds is a felonyoffense, punishable by up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine.
• Possession of 25 pounds to less than 2000 pounds is a felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and by a fine not to exceed $25,000.
• Possession of less than 25 plants is a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and by a fine not to exceed $5,000.

Penalties for selling marijuana:

• If you give away 20 grams or less of marijuana for free, you are guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and by a $1,000 fine.
• If you sell any amount of marijuana up to 25 pounds, you are guilty of a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and by a fine not to exceed $5,000.

In addition to the above, possession of drug paraphernalia is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and by up to one year in jail.

This is a basic summary of marijuana offenses in Florida, but it does not include them all. If you are facing any drug charges in West Palm Beach, I urge you to contact my firm for a free case evaluation.

To learn about restricted licenses after drug convictions, click here. You can also check out, “Drug License Suspensions in Florida.”