Marijuana Charges Are More Serious When Your Stash of Weed Tests Positive for Fentanyl

Getting caught with weed when you are a minor, or when you are a young adult in a jurisdiction in Florida that has not yet legalized recreational cannabis possession, does not always turn out to be a big deal.  If you are young enough, you might go through the juvenile justice system, where the record of the incident will disappear when you turn 18, unless you do something considerably worse while you are still a minor, in which case you might end up in adult criminal court.  If you are a young adult with no criminal record, an arrest for illegal possession of marijuana is the perfect candidate for drug court; if you successfully complete your drug court program, the court will drop the charge, and you can move forward with your life with no criminal record.  Of course, these outcomes are only the best-case scenario.  If you get caught possessing weed a second time illegally, the consequences can be more severe the second time, especially if there are aggravating factors.  If you are facing criminal charges for marijuana possession, and it isn’t just a case of smoking a joint in one of Florida’s rural counties, contact a Florida drug offenses attorney.

Smoking Weed When You Are a Young Adult Is Harmless, Except When It Isn’t

In April 2025, Brian Rosado, 18, got pulled over in Palm Beach Gardens, and police found weed in his car.  What else is new?  This is a virtually universal experience for 18-year-olds in Florida.  It started out as a traffic stop for a trivial reason; the car’s windows had dark tints, and Rosado did a California stop sign maneuver, where he slowed down at a stop sign but did not make a complete stop.

When Rosado truthfully told the officer that he was on parole for marijuana charges that started when he was a minor, the officer took this as probable cause to search the car.  Rosado was visibly nervous, as anyone would be in this situation.  Upon searching the car, the officer found various THC products and items of drug paraphernalia, including a digital scale and a pipe decorated with a Minion.  There was also $792 in cash in the car.  A crime lab tested the marijuana seized during the traffic stop, and it tested positive for THC and also for fentanyl.

Whether Rosado knew that the marijuana was positive for fentanyl will not affect the outcome of the case; it was illegal for him to possess weed while on parole.  What could make a difference is the search of the vehicle.  Did Rosado consent to the search, and did he know that he could refuse?  Did he know that he had the right to remain silent when he told the officer about his previous marijuana charges?  The court cannot convict defendants if the state obtained its evidence against them illegally.

Contact FL Drug Defense Group About Drug Cases

A Central Florida criminal defense lawyer can help you if you are facing criminal charges for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.  Contact FL Drug Defense Group in Orlando, Florida to discuss your case.

Source:

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