Possession of Cocaine

by Malingering

The Florida economy has slowed and jobs have become scarce. The recession has led to a surprising trend in criminal behavior. Law enforcement has made an increased number of cannabis cultivation arrests. The combination of few employment opportunities, a large number of abandoned and foreclosed homes, and the continued demand for cannabis has resulted in a drastic increase in cannabis grow houses.

Due to complaints, police have increased their seizure of evidence found at suspected marijuana grow houses. Officials have added more resources in an effort to answer community complaints of suspected grow houses. The added police forces now conduct “knock and talks” at suspected grow house locations.Under certain situations, police officers undergo long-term surveillance to zero in on the extent of the grow house operation.

Hydroponic technology permits grow house offenders to create large quantities of cannabis at a rapid rate with minimal maintenance. The use of hydroponics, while increasing production, also creates a huge red flag for law enforcement in the way of enormous power bills from the use of indoor grow lamps. Police use the high power consumption to prove their case showing the suspected cannabis grow house exists in violation of Florida law.

In previous times, cannabis grow house charges were a relatively rare allegation. With the insurgence of new arrests for grow houses, the Florida legislatures and state prosecutors have taken a much tougher stance to try and rid the grow house operations in Florida and to address the public outcry for a greater crackdown of the drug houses.

Usually, a cannabis charge constitutes a third-degree felony, they can rapidly become a second or first degree felony. A few years ago, the law was amended to dictate that a grow operation involving 25 or more marijuana plans constituted evidence that the plants were intended for sale or distribution.

While an arrest for the operation of a grow house is already serious. The situation can grow worse if the cultivation operation includes 300 or more cannabis plants elevating the offense to a first-degree felony for drug trafficking. We all know what a plant is, but Florida law is very specific in providing a legal definition for a cannabis plant. It is defined as seeding or cuttings with noticeable “root formation.Law enforcement can include dead or harvested cannabis plans into their plant count. Florida drug trafficking charges carry minimum mandatory prison sentences upon a conviction.

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