CW_LAW VLOG PENALTIES FOR MARIJUANA_ZACH WARD_VN_V01 from Compass Marketing & Consulting on Vimeo. Marijuana, also known as cannabis, has been with us for thousands of years. Originating in central and southern Asia, seeds of the plant have been found with a 2500 year old Chinese mummy as well as in other ancient burial sites in Romania, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. References to its psychoactive properties have been cited in the writings of early Christians and Jews. Christopher Columbus may have been an avid user and scholars point to some cryptic references made to the...

Florida law makes a distinction between a sex offender and a sex predator, though most people would likely not know or care of the difference so long as a person designated with either status is kept away from children or placed in certain isolated areas, if possible. Sex offender and predator registries identify these persons and web sites are available for the public to see if these individuals are residing within their community. There are differences between these categories based on the severity of the offense and age of the victim with violent sexual offenders classified as sexual...

Whether you drive on a suspended or a revoked driver’s license, doing so is unlawful and exposes you to fines, further loss of your driving privileges and possible jail time. There is a difference between a suspended and a revoked license. If suspended, you’ve lost your privilege to drive for a temporary period of time. If it is revoked, your driving privileges have been removed. There are different offenses that lead to whether your license is suspended or revoked. Elements of Driving with a License that has Been Suspended (or Revoked)–DWLSR To be convicted of DWLSR, you must meet...

Probation is a court-ordered supervisory condition for persons convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony.  A court will impose probation either in lieu of a jail sentence or after a person has served a portion of their time in jail or prison. Depending on the type of probation, a defendant may or may not have to report to a probation or parole officer or a community supervisory officer on a regular or in-person basis. Florida considers probation as a means of rehabilitation but also as a way to protect the community by imposing certain restrictions on the individual’s freedoms. It affords...

In Florida, as in every other state in the U.S., no one under the age of 21 may possess an alcoholic beverage subject to a few exceptions such as for religious, medical or educational purposes. Some states do allow underage drinking and possession in private clubs or establishments. In Florida, a minor, or person under the age of 21, may not possess alcohol subject to two limited exceptions. The offense is also referred to as Minor in Possession or MIP. For persons who are at least 18 years of age, they may possess alcohol if employed in the sale, preparation and/or service of alcoholic...

All motorists know, or should know, their obligations when involved in an accident. These duties are uniform throughout the country with some few differences and subtleties of which many motorists may not be aware, some of which depend on whether the accident was property damage only or involved injuries. The penalties for not fulfilling these obligations also depend on whether the accident involved injuries or death or was property damage only. Motorists fail to remain at the scene of an accident for various reasons. If a driver caused an accident by erratic driving that caused another...

Should you, a friend or a relative be placed under arrest and jailed, bail is typically imposed according to a standard schedule for certain crimes. Under Florida law, you must appear before a judge or magistrate within 24-hours who will in most cases either review and confirm the bail amount if set, set no bail if you committed a non-bondable offense such as homicide or a crime of domestic violence, or release you on your own recognizance (ROR) and without bail. After you are taken to a jail or detention center, you are allowed to contact an attorney. Your lawyer may be able to arrange for...

A criminal conviction carries a stigma but also presents numerous obstacles to anyone seeking to live a normal and productive life. Felony convictions pose especially difficult impediments since you lose certain rights or privileges accorded without any criminal convictions including your 2nd Amendment right to own and possess firearms or to hold public office. Expungement An expungement is the purging of certain criminal arrest records. In Florida, you are only allowed to expunge a record of your criminal proceeding if the charges were dismissed before trial or you were acquitted of the...

The U.S. incarcerates more people per capita than any other western nation and is third in the world behind China and North Korea, countries known for their human rights abuses. It stands to reason that the U.S. also convicts more people for various crimes. It is also the nature of our criminal justice system that those persons with criminal convictions face numerous obstacles in finding suitable employment or housing, and in other areas of normal life. Anyone who has been charged with a criminal offense should retain an experienced criminal lawyer and be cognizant of the consequences of a...

To conceal something is to hide it from the ordinary sight or view of another person. This applies to carrying a concealed firearm on your person, which is illegal under 790.001 of the Florida Statutes, unless you have a valid Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP). This includes carrying it in your shirt or pocket or jacket where another person may not ordinarily see it. You may, however, carry a firearm, concealed or not, in your home or place of business. A firearm, for purposes of the Florida statute, is: Any weapon that may be readily converted To expel by an explosive charge A bullet or...