THC Concentrates
As vaporizers or e-cigarettes have grown increasingly popular in recent years, so too has the interest in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrates. Commonly referred to as “butane hash oil,” “BHO,” “shatter,””budder,” or “wax,” marijuana concentrates allow users to more discreetly consume THC.
Many people who do not want to smoke or vaporize—some of whom might need cannabis for medical conditions—elect to consume THC-infused edible products, such as brownies, cookies, or gummies. When alleged offenders are transporting edibles from other jurisdictions in which they are legally sold, the products may be easily distinguished because they are clearly labeled in childproof containers. If a person abandons such packaging to avoid possible criminal charges, he or she can risk having a child consume the product.
While cannabis is a Schedule I controlled substance in Florida and alleged offenders can face misdemeanor charges for possessing 20 grams or less of marijuana, possession of any amount of a THC concentrate is a felony offense. Convictions for possessing, selling, or manufacturing marijuana concentrates carry serious penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and significant fines.
Lawyer for THC Concentrate Arrests in Fort Lauderdale, FL
If you were arrested in South Florida for any kind of alleged criminal offense involving a marijuana concentrate, it is in your best interest to immediately seek legal representation. Meltzer & Bell defends clients accused of cannabis crimes in communities all over Broward County, including Davie, Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Miramar, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, and many others.
Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorneys Lawrence Meltzer and Steven Bell can fight to possible get your criminal charges reduced or dismissed. They can review your case and answer all of your legal questions as soon as you call (954) 765-6585 to schedule a free, confidential consultation.
Broward County THC Concentrates Information Center
- How are crimes involving marijuana concentrates classified?
- What are the consequences of convictions for these types of offenses?
- Where can I learn more about THC concentrates in Broward County?
THC Concentrate Charges in Florida
Possession of a controlled substance offenses are listed under Florida Statute § 893.13. While offenses involving 20 grams or less of marijuana are usually misdemeanors, the term cannabis “does not include the resin extracted from the plants of the genus Cannabis or any compound manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such resin.”
Marijuana concentrates are high-THC resin extracted from cannabis, and possession of any amount of a THC concentrate is a third-degree felony offense. It is a second-degree felony if an alleged offender possesses, sells, manufactures, delivers, or possesses with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver a marijuana concentrate in, on, or within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising any of the following:
- A child care facility between the hours of 6 a.m. and 12 midnight;
- A public or private elementary, middle, or secondary school between the hours of 6 a.m. and 12 midnight;
- A state, county, or municipal park;
- A community center (meaning “a facility operated by a nonprofit community-based organization for the provision of recreational, social, or educational services to the public”);
- A publicly owned recreational facility;
- A public or private college, university, or other postsecondary educational institution;
- A physical place for worship at which a church or religious organization regularly conducts religious services;
- A convenience business (meaning “any place of business that is primarily engaged in the retail sale of groceries, or both groceries and gasoline, and that is open for business at any time between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.”);
- A public housing facility; or
- An assisted living facility (meaning “any building or buildings, section or distinct part of a building, private home, boarding home, home for the aged, or other residential facility, whether operated for profit or not, which undertakes through its ownership or management to provide housing, meals, and one or more personal services for a period exceeding 24 hours to one or more adults who are not relatives of the owner or administrator”).
Broward County THC Concentrate Penalties
The sentence an alleged offender receives if convicted of a marijuana concentrate crime depends on how the alleged crime was classified. Maximum sentences in THC concentrate cases may include the following:
- Third-Degree Felony — Up to five years in prison and/or fine of $5,000; or
- Second-Degree Felony — Up to 15 years in prison and/or fine of $10,000.
Felony convictions can also carry many additional consequences, such as possible loss of a person’s firearm rights and professional licenses.
Florida THC Concentrate Offense Resources
The Facts About Marijuana Concentrates | Just Think Twice — JustThinkTwice.gov is a United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) website. On this section of the website, you can learn what marijuana concentrates are, how potent concentrates can be, and how concentrates are abused. You can also find information about the effects of using marijuana concentrates.
What You Should Know About Marijuana Concentrates | DEA — View a downloadable pamphlet on marijuana concentrates from the DEA. The pamphlet discusses the THC extraction process and some of its dangers. You can also learn more about common street names for marijuana concentrates.
Meltzer & Bell | Fort Lauderdale THC Concentrates Defense Attorney
Were you arrested for any kind of alleged criminal offense involving a marijuana concentrate in Broward County? Contact Meltzer & Bell as soon as possible for help achieving the most favorable resolution to your case.
Lawrence Meltzer and Steven Bell are experienced criminal defense lawyers in Fort Lauderdale who represent residents of and visitors to Hallandale Beach, Wilton Manors, Sunrise, Deerfield Beach, Weston, Tamarac, Margate, Coconut Creek, and many surrounding areas of South Florida. Call (954) 765-6585 or submit an online contact form to have our attorneys provide a complete evaluation of your case during a free initial consultation.