When it comes to marijuana laws in Ft. Lauderdale, it’s important to first understand what the state laws are for marijuana. Basically, recreational marijuana use is illegal in Florida, no matter what city you live in. If you’re caught buying, possessing, or selling any cannabis product in Florida, you will be penalized. Depending on how much marijuana you have on you, the police could charge you with either a misdemeanor or felony. And, the penalties depend on how much of the drug you’re caught with. Here is a summary of the laws in Florida regarding marijuana.
If you’re caught with less than 20 grams of marijuana, you face up to 1 year in prison and fines of up to $1,000
If you’re caught using or selling marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, college, park or jail, you face up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000
If you’re caught in possession of (or selling) less than 25 pounds of cannabis or marijuana, you face fines of up to $5,000 and up to 5 years in prison
One important thing to know about Florida is that certain cities have decided to decriminalize possession of a small amount of marijuana (less than 20 grams.) Next, we’ll talk about whether Ft. Lauderdale is one of these cities.
Fort Lauderdale Passed New Legislation Regarding Minor Possession of Marijuana
Until recently, people caught with any amount of marijuana would be penalized under Florida state law. This means that you could theoretically be facing up to a year in jail and fines of up to $1,000 – even if you only had a couple of grams of weed on you. The new law in Ft. Lauderdale is a bit more forgiving. However, it’s not like the laws in cities like Miami. They haven’t decriminalized marijuana. They haven’t replaced criminal charges with civil citations. However, the law is a bit more relaxed than it used to be.
In Ft. Lauderdale, you won’t be prosecuted criminally unless you have at least 3 grams of cannabis or marijuana on you. There is a good reason for this. The police need at least 2 grams of the drug to test it. Since hemp is legal, and since it’s so hard to tell hemp from marijuana, it isn’t practical to pursue cases with less than 3 grams. For the most part, if you’re caught with less than 3 grams of marijuana, you’ll be offered some sort of diversion program. This could include rehab or even community service. There will also be fines attached to your case as well. These will vary depending on what you have on at the time of your arrest.
What Does the Future Look Like for Marijuana in Fort Lauderdale?
Just like the other cities in Florida, Ft. Lauderdale residents are hoping that the State will legalize marijuana this year. There is a lot of support for the legalization of the drug. And, the State realizes how much they can gain in tax revenue if they do legalize cannabis for recreational use. However, there really is no way to know for sure until election time. For now, your best bet is to avoid being caught with marijuana on you. If you don’t have a medical marijuana card, it’s just not worth the risk. And definitely don’t get caught smoking weed in public in Ft. Lauderdale. Cops can use discretion but when you’re blatant enough to get high right on a street corner, expect to be arrested.