Our society has been conditioned to think of drug addiction as a legal problem. Every year thousands of people in Florida and throughout the United States are charged with drug crimes ranging from possession of banned substances to prescription drug fraud. But in our political rush to judge and condemn drug users, we often forget they are suffering from...
Continue ReadingDrugs are widely used in the United States, but it’s not just illegal ones that are leading to criminal charges and deaths. Prescription drugs have become an epidemic in the country over the past decade. People are living longer and relying on painkillers to help them feel good. The problem with prescription drugs, though, is that they stop working...
Continue ReadingThere has been a lot of talk in the news recently about the effects of unchecked opioid abuse in Florida and throughout the country. Sadly, this is not just a case of media hype. Opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, and oxycodone are highly addictive–and fatal. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, in 2015 there were nearly 3,900...
Continue ReadingHow Much Weed Is A Felony in Florida? To many people, marijuana is considered a harmless drug. However, given that the laws vary from state to state, many would disagree. While it may seem as though marijuana is pretty much decriminalized in the United States, some states still have harsh penalties in place when it comes to possession of...
Continue ReadingMore and more medical marijuana dispensaries are opening up in Florida. While this is great news for those who benefit from the drug to help with medical conditions, gun owners may want to take note. In Florida, you can’t be both a medical marijuana user and a gun owner. If you are found to be in possession of both...
Continue ReadingWhen mailing Christmas packages this holiday season, be careful not to mail any banned substances such as drugs. Even though marijuana is legal in some states, you cannot send it via the post office. This is called drug trafficking and comes with felony charges. Approximately 1,000 people are arrested every year for drug trafficking via the U.S. Postal Service....
Continue ReadingIllegal drug use is not the only substance abuse issue in the United States. Prescription drug abuse is also on the rise. Many people have died from overdoses, and now many states are taking steps to prevent this problem. In 2010, Florida had more than 900 unregulated pain management clinics. The 49 oxycodone clinics in the state were once...
Continue ReadingMarijuana is now legal for medical and/or recreational use in 29 states and the District of Columbia. While marijuana is legal at the state level, it’s still a federal crime. This causes not only confusion in the cannabis industry, but it opens the door to myriad complexities as well. Banks are regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC),...
Continue ReadingWhen it comes to drugs, there are two main charges that a person can face: possession and intent to distribute. Possession refers to someone having drugs for personal use only. Intent to distribute refers to drug trafficking and the sale of drugs. While possession is typically a minor crime, it can cause a person to be charged with a...
Continue ReadingOn June 23, Florida Gov. Rick Scott finally signed legislation to implement Amendment 2, the voter-approved constitutional amendment to permit medical marijuana. The legislation, adopted during a special session of the Florida legislature, creates an overall regulatory framework to ensure patient access to medical marijuana. Among other provisions, the new law will significantly increase the number of organizations licensed...
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