POSSESSION OF CANNABIS OVER 20 GRAMS (F.S. 893.13(6)(A))
DIVERSION
Santa Rosa County, FL
September 4, 2025
Client was charged in Santa Rosa County with Possession of Cannabis Over 20 Grams (F.S. § 893.13(6)(a)), a third-degree felony carrying up to 5 years in Florida State Prison and a $5,000 fine, along with Resisting an Officer Without Violence. The felony cannabis possession charge arose from a [REDACTED] traffic stop during which law enforcement alleged discovery of over 20 grams of cannabis in the [REDACTED] vehicle. Under Florida law, possession of over 20 grams of cannabis remains a felony — unlike many states that have decriminalized or reduced penalties for cannabis possession, Florida continues to impose severe felony consequences. A felony drug conviction would have resulted in an automatic 2-year driver's license suspension under F.S. § 322.055, in addition to the criminal penalties. The client was a [REDACTED] individual whose [REDACTED] future depended entirely on avoiding a felony conviction and its devastating collateral consequences.
The defense team implemented an early, proactive strategy focused on challenging the State's proof at every turn while simultaneously positioning the client for the best possible resolution. We conducted a comprehensive review of the traffic stop, the search, and the chain of custody of the alleged cannabis, identifying [REDACTED] issues with the [REDACTED] basis for the search. Through persistent pressure on the State's case and advocacy highlighting the client's [REDACTED] background and the disproportionate consequences of a felony conviction, we secured the client's entry into a diversion program. Upon successful completion of the program conditions, the felony charge will be dismissed entirely, and the client will be eligible to seal or expunge the arrest record — effectively erasing the incident from the client's criminal history. The resisting charge was also addressed as part of the global resolution. This outcome preserved the client's driver's license, avoided a felony record, and protected the client's [REDACTED] future. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; each case depends on its facts and circumstances.