What are the penalties for cocaine possession in Florida?

Possession of cocaine is a third-degree felony carrying up to five years in prison and a fine, along with a driver's license suspension that catches people off guard.

Above the trafficking weight, the exposure changes character entirely — first-degree felony, mandatory minimum prison, and escalating minimums as weight increases.

Because the threshold matters this much, weight is where these cases are often fought. Whether packaging was included. Whether the scale was calibrated. Whether the substance was homogeneous or whether a mixture was weighed in total.

A first offense with no record may be eligible for pretrial diversion or drug court depending on the circuit and the facts, which can result in dismissal on completion.