Depending on the state and the drug, drug charges carry specific penalties. Cocaine laws are a special category when it comes to drug charges. In Florida, drug possession can range from a misdemeanor to a felony.
Drug charges in Florida
In Florida, cocaine is classed as a Schedule 2 controlled substance. It is also known as a street drug. Anyone caught in possession of any Schedule 2 drug, with the exception of marijuana, can face a felony.
Florida law states that penalties for drug possession range from:
- A first-degree misdemeanor, or 11 months 29 days in jail
- A first-degree felony with a minimum mandatory sentence
Cocaine laws in Florida
To warrant a first-degree felony for cocaine possession, which can impose a sentence of 30 years in prison, the possession must be considered drug trafficking. Possession of 28 grams or more can result in a trafficking charge.
With Florida’s cocaine laws, there are harsher penalties for anyone found to be in “constructive” or “actual” possession of the drug. In such a case, they face charges of a third-degree felony, with the following penalties:
- 5 years in prison, or 5 years of probation
- A $5,000 fine
- Possible drug counseling, inpatient drug rehab, or driver’s license suspension
Do first-time offenders go to jail?
In most cases, Florida considers it a third-degree felony when someone has a controlled substance in their possession. A first-time offender can likely face a felony drug charge for cocaine possession. Drug charges are always stressful. Florida’s cocaine laws carry especially harsh penalties for possession which may result in jail time.