A criminal defense attorney in Broward County can explain the various issues revolving around grow houses.  Some of the important things that a criminal defense attorney in Broward County may discuss with you include:

Charge of Cultivation of Marijuana 

Cultivation of marijuana is a third degree felony in Florida.  It is punishable by up to five years imprisonment.  It is a Level 3 offense if there are not any additional charges that are included and if the defendant does not have a prior criminal history.  It equates to 16 points on the Florida Criminal Punishment Code Score Sheet.  However, these charges are often coupled with similar charges, such as trafficking, possession of drug paraphernalia or renting for the purpose of trafficking.

Why an Investigation Arises 

These types of charges often come about as a result of sting operations.  These operations may commence when there are confidential informants who give up information on a defendant.  This is usually because the person has been caught with drugs and wants to reduce his or her own criminal punishment.  Florida has the highest number of raids on indoor cannabis cultivation.

Other investigations start when law enforcement officers follow people after they leave hydroponic gardening supply stores.  Other investigations start when the electric company reports to law enforcement that there are illegal electric connections.   

Potential Defenses to Grow House Charges 

The potential defenses that may be present in grow house cases depends on the individual circumstances surrounding the case.  One common defense in these types of cases is that law enforcement did not have a valid warrant at the time that they conducted a search or seizure.  A criminal defense lawyer may try to suppress evidence that may be used against the defendant.