Florida Military Drug Crime Defense Lawyers – Florida UCMJ Attorneys

Elite Civilian Attorneys Defending Service Members Accused of Drug Use, Possession & Distribution in Florida

Florida is one of the most dangerous states in America for military drug allegations. With widespread availability of THC vapes, CBD/Delta-8/Delta-9 THC products, edibles, vape pens, medical marijuana shops, nightlife drugs like cocaine and MDMA, and common prescription medications, military personnel across Florida are routinely accused of drug misconduct — often unfairly.

At bases like NAS Jacksonville, NAS Pensacola, Mayport, Whiting Field, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, Tyndall AFB, Patrick Space Force Base, MacDill AFB, Homestead ARB, NSA Panama City, NAS Key West, and all major Coast Guard installations, accusations of drug use or possession are aggressively pursued under Article 112a.

Gonzalez & Waddington, Attorneys at Law is one of the premier military drug crime defense teams in the world. Led by former JAG Michael Waddington and trial attorney Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington, our firm defends Florida service members accused of drug use, possession, distribution, urinalysis failures, CBD confusion, prescription misuse, and criminal drug allegations.

Most drug cases in Florida involve misunderstandings, contaminated samples, legal civilian products mislabeled as “THC-free,” or false assumptions made by NCIS/OSI/CID/CGIS investigators.

➤ Request a Confidential Florida Drug Crime Defense Consultation

Why Florida Is a High-Risk State for Military Drug Allegations

Florida’s civilian drug environment — combined with heavy tourism, nightlife, and deceptive commercial marketing — makes it extremely easy for service members to be accused of drug misconduct even when they had no intent to break military law.

Major Florida Risk Factors:

• CBD stores everywhere selling mislabeled products
• Delta-8 & Delta-9 THC gummies widely sold as “legal”
• Vape shops near every base
• Tourism-driven nightlife (Miami, Tampa, Pensacola, Jacksonville)
• High cocaine availability in Florida nightlife
• Military urinalysis programs with extremely low detection thresholds
• False positives from medications or contamination
• NCIS/OSI/CID/CGIS assumptions of guilt

Florida is one of the easiest places to accidentally ingest a banned substance — even from products sold legally to civilians.

Most Common Military Drug Charges in Florida

We defend service members accused of all drug-related UCMJ offenses, including:

1. THC Vape & Edible Cases

• Delta-8 and Delta-9 gummies purchased at Florida gas stations
• Vape pens sold in Florida CBD shops labeled “no THC” but containing THC
• Cross-contamination from shared vape devices
• Urinalysis showing THC metabolite from legal products

2. Cocaine, MDMA, Ketamine & Street Drug Allegations

These cases often involve:

• Nightlife in Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Pensacola
• Wrong place, wrong time situations
• “Contact high” or environmental contamination theories ignored by investigators
• Civilian friends using substances without your knowledge

3. Prescription Misuse

• Medication-sharing misunderstandings
• Pill identification mistakes
• Accidental double dosing
• Medications prescribed to prior providers or deployed units

4. Article 112a “Wrongful Use” from Contaminated Products

This is one of the biggest issues in Florida due to misleading THC/CBD labeling.

5. Drug Distribution & Possession Accusations

• Roommate disputes
• Shared barracks space
• Coast Guard boarding team “constructive possession” cases

6. Urinalysis Failures (Hot UA)

• THC false positives from CBD products
• Poppy seeds causing opiate positives
• Cross-contamination in barracks bathrooms
• Improper chain of custody at Florida bases

Why Innocent Florida Service Members Are Accused of Drug Use

Most drug allegations arise from simple mistakes or uncontrollable circumstances.

THC-Related False Positives

• Legal CBD oils containing trace THC
• Delta-8 or Delta-9 gummies legally purchased at stores
• Cross-contamination from vape devices
• Laboratory contamination

Barracks Contamination Issues

• Shared bathrooms
• Shared trash cans
• Friends or roommates smoking THC in nearby rooms

Florida Nightlife Exposure

• Drinks spiked by civilians
• Environmental exposure at parties
• False accusations by intoxicated civilians

Investigator Bias

• NCIS/OSI/CID/CGIS assume guilt immediately
• Investigators frequently ignore exonerating evidence
• Commands fear “drug problem optics”

Where Drug Crime Investigations Occur Most in Florida

Navy & Marine Corps (NCIS)

• NAS Jacksonville
• Mayport
• Pensacola
• Whiting Field
• Key West

Air Force & Space Force (OSI)

• Eglin
• Hurlburt
• Tyndall
• Patrick SFB
• MacDill AFB
• Homestead ARB

Coast Guard (CGIS)

• Sector Miami
• Sector Jacksonville
• Sector Key West
• AIRSTA Clearwater

Army (CID)

• USAG Miami / SOUTHCOM
• Camp Blanding
• Florida Reserve & Guard commands

How Gonzalez & Waddington Defends Drug Cases in Florida

We use cutting-edge forensic science, aggressive challenge techniques, and deep knowledge of Florida drug environments to dismantle weak allegations.

1. Challenge the Urinalysis

• Chain of custody violations
• Lab errors
• Contamination
• Incorrect metabolite interpretation
• False positives from legal products

2. Attack Investigative Assumptions

• NCIS/OSI/CID/CGIS tunnel vision
• No actual evidence of knowing ingestion
• Investigator pressure & leading questions

3. Provide Innocent Explanations

• CBD/Delta-8/Delta-9 cross-contamination
• Shared vaping devices
• Food or drink contamination

4. Demonstrate Command Bias

• Training pipeline zero tolerance
• Aviation/space/cyber units overreacting to protect clearances
• SOF units protecting “unit integrity”

5. Expose Witness Motives

• Jealous roommates
• Angry peers
• Rumor-driven accusations
• “Snitch” dynamics in student pipelines

6. Build a Full Mitigation Package

• Character letters
• Urinalysis retests
• Medical records
• Operational history

Pro Tips for Florida Military Members in Drug Cases

• Never admit to knowing use.
• Never talk to NCIS/OSI/CID/CGIS.
• Save product packaging (CBD/THC products).
• Do not sign ANY statements.
• Collect witness names immediately.
• Get a hair test in many THC/cocaine cases.
• Hire civilian counsel immediately.

➤ Speak With a Florida Military Drug Defense Lawyer

Florida Military Drug Crime Defense – Frequently Asked Questions

Authoritative Military Resource: Drug Enforcement Administration