Last updated January 2026
Updated for 2025 — Former Prosecutor. Aggressive Defense. Local Insight.
Drug arrests in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County are treated aggressively by prosecutors and judges. A conviction can mean jail or prison, driver’s license suspension, professional consequences, and a permanent criminal record that follows you for life.
You need a Fort Lauderdale drug crime defense lawyer who understands both the law and the way Broward’s drug units actually operate.
Attorney Michael White is a former prosecutor who handled serious narcotics cases from the State’s side. Today, he defends clients across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach facing everything from simple possession to multi-count trafficking.
📞 Free consultation: (954) 270-0769 — Same-day calls welcome.
⚖️ Florida Drug Laws: The Basics
Most drug charges in Florida are prosecuted under Chapter 893, including:
§ 893.13 – Possession, sale, manufacture, and delivery of controlled substances
§ 893.135 – Drug trafficking (weight-based mandatory minimums)
Common controlled substances include:
Cannabis / THC concentrates
Cocaine and crack cocaine
Oxycodone, hydrocodone, and other prescription opioids
Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium, etc.)
Methamphetamine and synthetic drugs
Penalties depend on:
The type of substance
The amount/weight
Whether the State alleges intent to sell or deliver
Prior criminal history
Proximity to schools, parks, or churches
📦 Types of Drug Crimes We Defend
Florida drug cases fall into several distinct legal categories, each with different penalties, defenses, and strategies.
Drug Trafficking (Weight-Based Charges)
Drug trafficking charges are based primarily on the weight of the substance, not proof of sale. These cases often carry mandatory minimum prison sentences, even for first-time offenders.
👉 Learn more about Florida drug trafficking charges.
Felony Drug Charges (Possession, Sale, or Delivery)
Many drug cases are prosecuted as felonies based on the type of substance, quantity, or alleged intent to sell or deliver, exposing defendants to prison, probation, and long-term consequences.
👉 Learn more about felony drug charges in Florida.
Prescription Drug Crimes & Doctor Shopping
Prescription drug cases often involve allegations of fraud, unlawful possession, or obtaining prescriptions under false pretenses, even when no street drugs are involved.
👉 Learn more about prescription drug charges and defenses.
Third-Degree Drug Felonies & Criminal Records
Many drug offenses are charged as third-degree felonies, which can permanently impact your criminal record, employment, and eligibility for sealing or expungement.
👉 Learn more about third-degree drug felonies in Florida.
🚨 What Happens After a Drug Arrest in Broward County?
After a drug arrest in Fort Lauderdale or elsewhere in Broward County, the case moves quickly — and early decisions can significantly affect the outcome.
Most defendants can expect the following sequence:
🏢 Booking & First Appearance
After arrest, you are booked into the Broward County Jail and brought before a judge within 24 hours for a first appearance or bond hearing. Bond amounts vary based on the charge, alleged drug type, and prior record.
👉 Learn more about bail in Florida drug cases
🧪 Evidence Review & Lab Testing
Drug cases depend heavily on evidence — including field tests, lab analysis, and how evidence was handled from seizure to testing. Errors at this stage can weaken or destroy the prosecution’s case.
👉 What the State must disclose in a Florida drug case
⚖️ Case Assignment & Early Strategy
Depending on the charge, your case may be assigned to:
Misdemeanor court
Felony division
Drug Court eligibility screening
At this stage, a defense attorney evaluates:
Whether evidence can be suppressed
Whether charges are overstated
Whether diversion or early resolution is possible
👉 How motions to suppress affect drug cases
🔄 Diversion Programs & Alternatives
Some first-time or low-level offenders may qualify for Pretrial Intervention (PTI) or Drug Court, allowing treatment instead of conviction. Successful completion can result in dismissal.
👉 Drug Court in Broward County: eligibility and process
📉 Potential Early Outcomes
With prompt legal action, outcomes may include:
Reduced bond or release on recognizance
No-file decisions (charges never formally filed)
Reductions from trafficking or sale to possession
Entry into diversion programs
Case dismissal based on suppressed evidence
Early intervention is often the difference between a felony conviction and a clean record.
🛑 Common Mistakes After a Drug Arrest
Avoid these to protect your defense:
Talking to detectives without a lawyer
Consenting to searches of phone, vehicle, or home
Posting about the arrest on social media
Failing to save texts, call logs, or GPS data that could help you
Assuming “it’s just possession” and pleading guilty
🛡️ How Michael White, P.A. Builds a Drug Defense
As a former prosecutor, Michael White understands how drug cases are built — and where they fail. Many Florida drug prosecutions collapse not because of the substance involved, but because law enforcement cut corners during the investigation.
Our defense strategy focuses on identifying those failures early and using them to suppress evidence, reduce charges, or obtain dismissals.
🚓 Illegal Stops, Searches, and Seizures
Many drug arrests begin with traffic stops, street encounters, or searches that do not meet constitutional standards. If police lacked reasonable suspicion, probable cause, or a valid warrant, the evidence may be thrown out.
👉 Learn how motions to suppress can defeat drug charges
🧪 Lab Testing Errors & Chain of Custody Problems
Drug cases rely heavily on proper evidence handling and laboratory testing. Missing documentation, contamination, or unexplained gaps in custody can make the State’s evidence unreliable or inadmissible.
👉 How chain of custody issues weaken drug prosecutions
🧍 Constructive Possession & “Those Drugs Aren’t Mine”
In cases involving shared vehicles, residences, or multiple occupants, the State must prove knowledge and control, not just proximity. Being near drugs is not the same as possessing them.
👉 Understanding constructive possession defenses in Florida
📦 Weight, Classification, and Charging Errors
Especially in trafficking and felony cases, charges often hinge on how drugs are weighed, classified, or tested. Improper inclusion of packaging, mixtures, or misidentified substances can dramatically change sentencing exposure.
📍 Why Local Experience Matters for Drug Cases
In Broward, drug cases are often handled by specialized units and dedicated court divisions. A local attorney understands:
Which judges are strict on suppression issues
How specific prosecutors approach trafficking vs. possession
Local Drug Court policies and diversion eligibility
How prior DWLS / DUI / DV cases interact with drug charges
This local knowledge can dramatically influence:
Whether you get prison, probation, or treatment
Whether you can keep or regain your driver’s license
Whether your case stays felony or can be reduced to misdemeanor
🧬 Special Considerations: Professionals, License Holders & Students
Drug charges often carry consequences far beyond the courtroom. Even a first-time offense can trigger mandatory reporting, disciplinary action, or long-term career damage — sometimes before a case is resolved.
We regularly defend clients whose livelihoods are on the line, including:
Healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors, technicians)
Lawyers and bar applicants
Teachers and school employees
CDL drivers and transportation workers
College students and scholarship recipients
Early legal strategy matters because actions taken before disposition can affect licensing boards, employers, and schools.
Employment & Background Checks
Arrests and charges — not just convictions — can appear on background checks and lead to suspension, termination, or lost opportunities.
👉 How a Drug Conviction Affects Employment in Florida
Professional Licensing & Mandatory Reporting
Many licensed professionals must report arrests or charges to their regulatory boards. Mishandling these disclosures can make a bad situation worse.
👉 Drug Charges and Professional License Consequences
Students & Financial Aid
College students may face school discipline, housing issues, or loss of financial aid stemming from drug arrests — even when charges are later reduced or dismissed.
An experienced defense attorney coordinates the criminal case strategy with academic or licensing obligations to limit collateral damage.
❓ Drug Crimes FAQ – Fort Lauderdale
Q1: What’s the difference between possession and trafficking in Florida?
Possession is based on having a controlled substance for personal use. Trafficking is primarily weight-based, often with mandatory minimum prison sentences, regardless of whether money changed hands.
Q2: Can I beat a drug charge if the police searched my car or home?
Yes. If police conducted an illegal stop, search, or seizure — or if laboratory testing and evidence handling rules were not followed — a judge may suppress the evidence. When key evidence is excluded, drug charges are often reduced or dismissed entirely.
Q3: Are there diversion programs for drug charges in Broward?
Yes. Eligible first-time or low-level offenders may qualify for Pretrial Intervention (PTI) or Drug Court. Successful completion can result in dismissal.
Q4: Will a drug conviction stay on my record forever?
Unless your case is dismissed or later sealed/expunged, a drug conviction will remain on your record and show up on background checks.
Q5: Can a drug conviction be sealed or expunged?
Some withholds of adjudication for qualifying offenses can be sealed if you meet Florida’s eligibility rules. Straight convictions usually cannot.
📞 Call a Fort Lauderdale Drug Crime Defense Lawyer Today
Don’t wait for the State to build its case. Start building your defense now.
📲 Call Michael White, P.A. at (954) 270-0769
💬 Or request your free confidential consultation online.
We’ll review your charges, explain your options, and develop a strategy tailored to your case.