Our Fort Lauderdale criminal defense law team wants to warn our readers and clients that on June 5, Governor Rick Scott signed a bill making the possession of bongs for drug use illegal in the state of Florida.
The new regulation makes it “unlawful for a person to knowingly and willfully sell or offer for sale at retail any drug paraphernalia… other than a pipe that is primarily made of briar, meerschaum, clay or corn cob.”
The law refers to any related manufacture, possession, delivery, use, advertisement, or transportation, or sale of the drug paraphernalia. According to Huffington Post, starting July 1, Florida shop owners found selling pipes, bongs, and bowls, etc. will be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor. Any following violation will lead to a third-degree felony charge, which will result in their loss of the right to vote.
However, as the new law states, this refers to “knowingly and willfully” selling drug paraphernalia, meaning that without direct reference to illicit drug use, sales of pipes, bongs, and bowls can continue in shops that make at least 75 percent of their revenue from tobacco products. If you have a business that sells this type of product, we recommend you to consult a specialized criminal defense attorney to determine the path to follow regarding your retail business.