Violations of the New Medical Marijuana Laws

Violations of the New Medical Marijuana Laws   Florida is one of 29 states that has legalized the use of medical marijuana. However, that does not mean that it has loosened up on its criminal law regarding marijuana. Possession and distribution without authorization are still criminal offenses that can warrant a felony charge in Florida. Driving under the influence … Read more

How to Get the Medical Marijuana in Florida: The Process

How to Get the Medical Marijuana in Florida: The Process Florida passed Amendment 2, which is also known as Florida’s Medical Marijuana Initiative, on November 8, 2016. It passed with 71% of voters approving the bill. However, implementing the law has been a time-consuming process. Today, the legislature is still altering many aspects of the new law, including … Read more

Aggravated Manslaughter: Leaving a Child in a Hot Car

Aggravated Manslaughter: Leaving a Child in a Hot Car Recently, a Florida firefighter was charged with aggravated manslaughter in the death of his toddler. The firefighter put his two children in the backseat of his car around 8:30 a.m., dropped off his daughter at kindergarten and then forgot about his toddler son. The child spent … Read more

Florida Medical Marijuana Laws are Confusing: What Residents Need to Know

Florida Medical Marijuana Laws are Confusing: What Residents Need to Know As state legal codes become increasingly complicated, it can be difficult for citizens to keep track of current and upcoming changes to the laws they are expected to live by, even those that may affect their lives. Even worse, is the barrage of news and opinion pieces that surround … Read more

It’s Not Just Sex!

It Isn’t Just Sex! Making Sense of Florida’s Complicated Prostitution Laws   It is an accepted fact that Florida’s prostitution laws are stringent, as part of the state’s resolve to diminish or extinguish the prostitution industry and help stop the serious problem of sex trafficking. As these laws have become tougher, they have also become much more complicated. … Read more

Lesser Included Offense

Lesser Included Offense   In Florida, it is not uncommon for prosecutors to charge a criminal defendant with several offenses even though they all arose from the same conduct. For example, a defendant may be charged with simple possession of cocaine and also with the possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. In order to prove … Read more

What is the Difference in a Dismissal with Prejudice and Without Prejudice?

What is the Difference in a Dismissal with Prejudice and Without Prejudice? After criminal charges have been filed and the case is pending, either the prosecution or the defense may make a motion asking that the charges be dismissed. The court may grant the motion and dismiss the case either with prejudice or without prejudice. Dismissal … Read more

Admissibility of Defendant’s Admissions  

In all court proceedings, both civil and criminal, the Florida Evidence Code prohibits the admission of hearsay statements. Hearsay is defined as an out-of-court statement offered at trial for the purpose of “proving the truth of the matter asserted.” As is often the case with many statutes, there are exceptions to the general hearsay rule. Florida Evidence Code, … Read more