Last updated December 2025
A drug arrest in Fort Lauderdale can carry penalties that last far beyond court — affecting your license, job, and housing. But not every drug case is strong. From faulty searches to misidentified substances, the right defense can mean dismissal or diversion instead of conviction.
🚨 Florida Drug Laws Explained
Under Florida Statute §893.13, it’s illegal to possess, sell, or deliver controlled substances without authorization. The severity of your charge depends on the drug type, weight, and intent.
For instance:
Possession of cocaine or oxycodone is a third-degree felony, up to 5 years in prison.
Possession with intent to sell raises it to a second-degree felony.
Trafficking (by weight) carries mandatory minimums ranging from 3 to 25 years.
Learn more about Broward’s local process in Fort Lauderdale’s Top DUI Lawyer, which outlines how timing and courtroom familiarity can make or break early negotiations.
🧠 Common Drug Defenses
Most drug cases hinge on search and seizure. A Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer can challenge the legality of a stop, warrant, or consent search. If police violated your rights, evidence may be suppressed — often ending the case entirely.
Other winning defenses include:
Lack of possession (drugs found in shared spaces);
Entrapment (police pressure or inducement);
Faulty lab results or chain of custody errors;
Prescription defenses for medications like Xanax or Adderall.
If your case involves first-time possession, Broward’s drug diversion programs may allow dismissal after treatment or community service.
🧾 Where Fort Lauderdale Drug Cases Are Heard
Misdemeanor possession cases are handled at the North Regional Courthouse in Deerfield Beach, while felony cases proceed downtown at the Broward County Courthouse. That makes it critical to have local counsel who regularly appears in both.
Read about related felony strategy in Burglary with Assault or Battery in Florida: What It Means & How to Defend It.
🔗 Connected Legal Issues
Drug cases often overlap with search warrant challenges, probation violations, or resisting arrest charges. For those scenarios, see Resisting Arrest Defense Attorney Fort Lauderdale.
After your case concludes, learn how to protect your background through Fort Lauderdale Record Sealing & Expungement.
❓ Fort Lauderdale Drug Charges Defense FAQs
1. What’s the difference between possession and trafficking?
Trafficking depends on the drug’s weight and carries mandatory prison terms — even without intent to sell.
2. Can police search my car without consent?
Only with probable cause. If the search is illegal, evidence can be thrown out.
3. Can I go to jail for small-amount possession?
Yes, but diversion programs often keep first offenders out of jail.
4. How can I beat a drug charge in Broward County?
Through motions to suppress, chain-of-custody challenges, and proactive negotiation.
5. Can a drug arrest be expunged in Florida?
Yes — if the case is dismissed, dropped, or resolved without conviction.
💬 Contact a Fort Lauderdale Drug Charges Defense Attorney Today
If you’ve been charged with a drug offense in Broward County, don’t wait.
Contact Michael White, P.A. today for a free consultation with a former prosecutor who knows how to challenge searches, lab results, and police procedures in Fort Lauderdale courts.