Do personal Breathalyzers actually work? Ever since companies figured out how to manufacturer small personal Breathalyzers fairly inexpensively, they’ve been appearing in bars and at parties — anywhere people are drinking. The idea is that people can use them to see if their blood alcohol content (BAC) is safely under the legal limit (.08 percent) to drive. They’re supposed to…
Under Florida’s current medical marijuana laws, patients are able to use just about any form of cannabis that works for them, including sprays, tinctures, oils and edibles. They just can’t smoke it. Advocates for medical marijuana say that the “no smoke” rule is “a joke” and needs to be changed — along with laws that prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries from selling the…
Tomorrow, Florida voters will have the option amending the state constitution that, if passed, could potentially impact thousands of inmates statewide. Under the 11th Amendment of the state’s constitution, the legalization of cannabis would not have any effect on offenders serving sentences on marijuana-related crimes. In other states such as California, however, thousands of cannabis-related convictions continue to be overturned or…
On behalf of Michael A. Gottlieb, P.A. posted in felonies on Wednesday, October 17, 2018. Facing felony charges can leave a person very worried about his or her future. A conviction on such charges can lead to many stiff penalties. Also, having a felony conviction on one’s record can have many lasting impacts, including an impact on a person’s career. Among the things that…
The ability to vote is an important part of the civil rights of citizens in the United States, unless you are a felon living in Florida or one of the other states that bars ex-convicts from voting. There are over six million individuals that are affected by those restrictions. Florida is home to the largest group, numbering over 1.5…
Intentions are supposed to count for quite a lot in the criminal justice system. The intentions behind an act of violence often make the difference between a charge of manslaughter and murder. That’s why the felony murder rules used to convict many defendants of homicide are so troubling. Defendants charged under Florida’s felony murder laws are often confused about…
You may or may not have ever heard the term “doctor shopping.” Essentially, it’s used to describe the way that some people go from doctor to doctor until they find one that will give them a prescription for the drugs that they’re trying to obtain. It’s definitely not a healthy practice — and it’s also illegal. In Florida, it can…
The medical community’s growing acceptance of marijuana as a beneficial drug and the increasing availability of marijuana through legal means around the nation have some people confused about the place of synthetic marijuana. Synthetic marijuana, which is also known as “Spice,” “K2” and a host of other names, is not really marijuana. It is also neither safe nor legal. Because…
If you’ve been charged with a felony, you may have an opportunity to receive a community control sentence in lieu of incarceration as part of a plea deal. While this is an alternative to prison, it’s important to understand exactly how community control works — and how it differs from probation — before you accept the terms. Otherwise, you may…
A drug trafficking charge is far more serious than a basic possession charge, simply because the nation’s drug laws can be draconian. They impose long, mandatory jail sentences on anyone who is convicted — no matter what the circumstances. Defense strategies are extremely important in drug trafficking cases, so make certain that you discuss the specifics of your situation with your defense…
