Drug Dog Alerts Officers to Driver with Marijuana; Arrested on Four Counts of Possession

CHARGES DROPPED!

The Charges

Officers pulled over an aggressive Driver. A drug dog on the scene alerted to the scent of narcotics. The Driver admitted to a bag of marijuana on his passenger seat. A search of the vehicle resulted in the confiscation of four pipes, two of which contained marijuana residue and one smoking bong. Officers arrested the defendant on two counts of possession of <20 grams of marijuana and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Possession of Under 20 Grams of Marijuana

A first-degree misdemeanor, possession of under 20 grams of marijuana in Florida will have steep consequences. The offender could spend up to one year in jail or have one year of probation. There will also be a fine of $1,000. Not to mention there will probably be a driver’s license suspension. Add this to all the court costs that will need to be paid and it is a rather expensive charge. 

There are also other additional consequences that go along with this. This includes not being eligible for some government jobs, scholarships, or other forms of financial aid. This crime could also damage your reputation and make you ineligible for public housing. Colleges may turn you away as you have this conviction on your record, and employers could also deny you a job because of your record. 

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Possession of drug paraphernalia is a first-degree misdemeanor in Florida. Penalties that are associated with this include up to one year of jail, one year of probation, and a fine of $1,000. Drug paraphernalia is defined as any item that is used to harvest, plant, compound, store, package, repackage, contain, conceal, ingest, inhale, grow, manufacture, cultivate and/or inject any illegal substance.

Examples of drug paraphernalia include the following:

  • Wooden, plastic, metal, glass, stone, ceramic, or acrylic pipes.
  • Rolling papers and cigars.
  • Roach clips.
  • Bongs and hookahs.
  • E-cigarettes.
  • Breath Mints.
  • Eye drops.
  • Sunglasses.
  • Small spoons.
  • Bowls with a residue on them. 
  • Burnt bottle caps.
  • Used cotton balls that are dried up. 
  • Tinfoil.
  • Needles and small spoons.
  • Straws or paper tubes, small mirrors, and razorblades or cards.
  • Surgical/dust mask.
  • Candles, lighters, used matches.
  • Envelopes or baggies. 
  • Aerosol cans, tubes of glue, balloons, nozzles, or rags.

Musca Law Firm

If you have been charged with any drug crimes, from the possession of any controlled substances to possession of drug paraphernalia, it is wise to obtain legal services that you can trust. Musca Law Firm in Florida has successfully handled many such drug cases, and we want to hear from you. We can help prepare a strong legal defense that is strategic while exposing the weaknesses of the prosecution.  

Our many benefits include a 24-hour answering phone service, a free initial case consult, and offices located in numerous cities throughout the state of Florida. Please call us today at (888) 484-5057 to speak with one of our experienced attorneys!

RESULT: The Musca Law Defense Attorney prepared the case for trial. The Defense managed to convince the State of weak facts in the case. The Defense negotiated that three charges should be DROPPED completely and RESOLVED the other possession charge without conviction!