Jacksonville Criminal Lawyer Blog
As our government continues to pour money down the most wasteful government program in the history of mankind, also known as the war on drugs, the public seems to be more and more in favor of reversing course to some degree and legalizing marijuana. A recent survey conducted by Public Policy Polling found that 58% of the respondents said marijuana should be legal. Other recent polls had approval for legalizing marijuana at just over 50% and just under 50%. Of course, these polls were conducted around the same time that Colorado and Washington passed laws legalizing some degree of marijuana possession. More specifically, in Colorado, the new law makes it legal for an adult 21 years of age or older to possess up to an ounce (28.35 grams) of marijuana and privately grow/cultivate up to six marijuana plants. Back in the dark ages in Florida, what is now perfectly legal in Colorado is a felony crime punishable by up to five years in prison here. In Florida, it is a misdemeanor to possess twenty grams or less of marijuana, but it is a third degree felony to possession more than twenty grams of marijuana. Twenty grams is not much of anything.
It is probably only a matter of time before other states, including Florida, join the 20th century and stop wasting ridiculous amounts of money and resources on possession of a plant. General public sentiment appears to be heading in that direction, and the laws often follow. However, because legalization laws are contrary to the current, longstanding trend of taking every opportunity to increase the size of government and its reach, legalization laws may still be pretty far in the future for Florida.