Cultivating marijuana in Florida is considered a serious crime and anyone found guilty could face prison time due to Florida classifying marijuana as a Schedule I substance.
Florida law authorizes cultivators of marijuana only through licensed businesses operating as Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTC), and this license enables growers to handle all aspects of cultivation from cultivation through to customer procurement.
Cultivation is a crime
Florida law considers cultivating any drug illegal. People operating marijuana grow houses face significant fines and prison sentences for cultivating illegal substances; additionally they could face charges of possession or, if large enough quantities were discovered, trafficking. Florida authorities have ramped up efforts to crack down on grow houses by conducting sting operations at hydroponic gardening supply stores, using confidential informants to identify suspected offenders, and conducting sting operations against suspected grow house operators.
People found cultivating 25 or more marijuana plants at home could face third-degree felony charges that carry up to five years in prison and severe fines – making this crime serious enough to put someone’s entire life on hold.
Criminal defense attorney Benjamin Herbst has successfully represented many clients charged with marijuana cultivation across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. His firm is committed to decriminalization efforts within Florida; thus they strive tirelessly towards that end goal.
Cultivation is a felony
Cultivating marijuana or operating a grow house in Florida is considered a felony offense that may incur large fines and jail time if charged and found guilty. A conviction could have devastating repercussions for your personal and professional lives, so it is imperative to contact a criminal lawyer as soon as possible for legal representation.
Police in Florida are on constant vigil for marijuana grow houses, conducting sting operations against offenders. They may also monitor hydroponic gardening supply stores or use confidential informants to find people cultivating marijuana at home. If charged with cultivation, it is crucial that a drug defense attorney be hired immediately.
Landlords should include restrictions against growing marijuana in their lease agreements to protect themselves against prosecution in case tenants are caught growing it on their properties and incur damages to property as a result of growing it illegally. Furthermore, landlords might be subject to criminal investigation costs for any tenant caught planting cannabis plants on the landlord’s premises.
Cultivation is a misdemeanor
Cultivation of marijuana in Florida, even for medical purposes, is illegal and taken very seriously by Florida law enforcement. Individuals engaged in cultivating the plant may face criminal charges as landlords may face charges of renting to those engaging in its cultivation – this may also increase mold and asbestos growth in their home, which poses health risks to tenants.
Important to keep in mind is that Florida’s legalization of medical marijuana for medicinal use only applies to individuals holding an approved Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) medical marijuana card, not those cultivating marijuana without a license for either medicinal or recreational purposes. Doing so without first seeking approval can result in up to 30 years in prison; working with an experienced criminal defense attorney for cannabis cultivation cases will help mitigate possible outcomes and ensure your best possible chance of success in court.
Cultivation is a violation
Growing marijuana in Florida is illegal, yet people frequently set up “grow ops” within their own homes. Detectives have caught marijuana grow operations in two-thirds of Florida counties due to aggressive law enforcement policies as well as easy availability of information on hydroponic farming techniques. Landlords can protect themselves by requiring that potential renters undergo a stringent screening process and reporting any suspicious activities to police immediately.
Under state law, cultivating marijuana is considered a serious criminal offense that may carry significant prison sentences. Most often this offense is classified as third-degree felony; however, depending on circumstances (e.g. when minors reside at the premises) this crime could even be elevated to second-degree felonies and additional penalties may also apply such as fines and other sanctions against anyone found cultivating the plant.