Florida Drug Possession Law
Florida Drug Possession Defense
What you're facing under 893.13(6)(a), how the penalties scale, and the questions your attorney needs to answer, specific to Florida (FL) law.
Offense Class
1st Degree Misdemeanor (Schedule III-IV small amount); 3rd Degree Felony (Schedule I-II)
Maximum Penalty
1 year (misdemeanor); 5 years (3rd degree felony)
Maximum Fine
$1,000; $5,000
Penalty Range in Florida
Charge Enhancements
These factors can elevate the charge or penalty in Florida:
- Within 1,000 feet of school, park, or other protected location (§ 893.13(1)(c)) — 1st degree felony
- Within 200 feet of public housing
- Amount triggering trafficking threshold (§ 893.135)
Florida-Specific Detail
Florida eliminated knowledge-of-illicit-nature element (§ 893.101). Knowledge of presence sufficient. Drug Court available for eligible defendants.
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Important: This page provides legal INFORMATION about Florida drug possession law as of the date of publication. Laws change frequently. This is not legal advice. The analysis draws on methods developed by defense attorneys, applied to public data. Your attorney remains the final authority on defense direction.