Possession of Cocaine
Possession of cocaine is a 3rd degree felony in the State of Florida punishable by a maximum of 5 years in state prison.
Possession - as opposed to
trafficking in cocaine - is defined by weight. Having less than 28 grams on or about your person is simple possession, whereas having more is trafficking.
Trafficking carries mandatory prison time. Possession does not.
Possession-level crimes can result in
Drug Court for first-time offenders. Repeat offenders or persons with a prior criminal record may be looking at a
withhold of adjudication or perhaps a conviction (adjudication).
Remember - every drug crime, even possession of cocaine - involves a police encounter. The police must have discovered drugs (allegedly) in order to arrest and charge you.
You should speak with a
criminal defense attorney about your case to see whether the police violation your right to be free from an unlawful search.
Discuss with your attorney the following:
1) Did the police pull you over in a car? If so, did they search your car? Did they ask for your permission?
3) If the police obtained your consent to search, did they force, threaten, or coerce you into giving them consent?
4) Were you a passenger in a vehicle where drugs were found but had no knowledge that the drugs were there?
These are just a few of a multitude of issues a good criminal lawyer will examine when discussing your possession of cocaine charges with you.