cannabisnews.com: Chicago Wants Laissez-Faire Approach To Marijuana 





Chicago Wants Laissez-Faire Approach To Marijuana 
Posted by CN Staff on September 27, 2004 at 09:36:03 PT
By Chuck Goudie
Source: Daily Herald 
If your teenagers are suddenly spending time in West suburban Darien, it may not be for story time at the Indian Prairie Public library. Some residents must have been taken aback in the town that has decreed itself "A Nice Place to Live," upon finding out that Darien might also be looked at as a nice place for marijuana smokers to live it up.Simple marijuana possession in Darien is treated like jaywalking or spitting on the sidewalk. Having a joint or two is "punishable" by a ticket and a fine.
While Darien's modest marijuana ordinance has been on the books since 1977, it popped out of news articles last week concerning a similar plan floated in the city of Chicago to issue pot tickets.The scheme, offered by a Chicago police sergeant to raise money and free up police from court appearances, caught Mayor Richard M. Daley's eye. A meeting this week between police and prosecutors will smooth out details.Daley sees millions in marijuana fines wafting into a depleted city budget, instead of paying millions to police to attend court for misdemeanor pot cases, most of which are tossed.That was the rationale more than 25 years ago in Darien."My recollection of that period was that the ordinance was passed to free up officers' time," Police Chief Bob Pavelchik says.Darien, population 23,000, doesn't rival Amsterdam's look-the-other-way approach to casual drug use. The gateway to Downers Grove doesn't have hash bars or taverns with dope on the menu.Still, Pavelchik maintains that the laid-back ordinance is a deterrent because pot users don't know "if they will get a citation or be sent to criminal court."According to Darien police statistics, more than 90 percent of the cases result in a ticket. Since 2003, 50 citations have been issued to pot possessors, versus only seven criminal arrests on state charges. The fines on the tickets range from $50 to $500, and payments go into Darien's general fund.If Chicago sees dollar signs in the smoke signals, Darien sees a humanitarian side to the law."We do not look at this ordinance as a revenue generator," Pavelchik says, "but as an opportunity for a first offender (usually a juvenile) to not have a permanent criminal arrest record."Clearly, though, by downsizing marijuana use to a municipal violation, one of the messages is that authorities see personal marijuana use as small potatoes.When I heard that Mayor Richard M. had taken such a soft stance, all I could wonder was how Mayor Richard J., his late father, would react to making Chicago high-heaven for pot smokers.The move toward marijuana liberty comes as the city also looks to relax Sunday drinking laws to accommodate early-imbibing Chicago Bears fans.Daley favors allowing liquor service beginning at 10 a.m. on Sundays, instead of 11 a.m. Daley believes fans are entitled to a "champagne brunch."His Honor must have had some bubbles go to his brain prior to suggesting that. Bears fans don't favor Perrier Jouet mimosas and truffle quiche. They want salty cashews and a half-dozen shots of Jack Daniels chased by Miller Genuine Drafts.We're not in Bedford Falls anymore. With all this attention to weed smoking and liquor, you'd think gambling casinos were coming next to Chicago.• Chuck Goudie, whose column appears each Monday, is the chief investigative reporter at ABC7 News in Chicago. The views in this column are his own and not those of WLS-TV. Complete Title: Chicago Wants Laissez-Faire Approach To Marijuana UseSource: Daily Herald (IL)Author: Chuck GoudiePublished: Monday, September 27, 2004 Copyright: 2004 The Daily Herald CompanyContact: fencepost dailyherald.comWebsite: http://www.dailyherald.com/Related Articles:Don't Arrest for Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19553.shtmlSmall-Time Pot Arrests Huge Hassle for Courts http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19551.shtmlA Change in Marijuana Prosecution Eyed http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19548.shtmlRegulation Increases Control Over Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19540.shtml
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Comment #19 posted by The GCW on September 28, 2004 at 19:20:31 PT
Kevin J. Hacker, 36th Ward Republican committeeman
US IL: LTE: Pot PlanChicago -- This is regarding "Daley open to marijuana tickets; Mayor, cops agree that fines are better than case dismissals" ( Metro, Sept. 22 ). Mayor Richard M. Daley's support for a plan to ticket and fine those found to be in possession of marijuana instead of arresting them sends the wrong message to our children. The message they are going to receive is that smoking marijuana isn't a serious offense and is equivalent to rolling through a stop sign. Perhaps the mayor needs to do more research on the subject of drug addiction and the effect it has had on our society. Many experts in the field of drug addiction have studied the issue and have determined that very few young people use other illegal drugs without first trying marijuana. Instead of encouraging drug use, the mayor should be speaking against its use regardless of the experiences of his generation. We live in a very different time and the pressure on our children is greater than it has ever been. Today the availability of even more damaging drugs than marijuana is greater and they are becoming less expensive. Why let down our guard and send this destructive message? Kevin J. Hacker, 36th Ward Republican committeeman http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1379/a04.html?397(perhaps Cannabis users should be shot to send the right message to our children) (Would Hitler have sent the wrong message to children if He dicided to not kill?)Clock w/ broken gears.
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Comment #18 posted by ekim on September 28, 2004 at 18:27:51 PT
Kapt thanks for poll
 Tuesday, Sep. 28, 2004 
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
 
What do you think is the most likely reason Canada has not decriminalized marijuana?
 
 
Most people don't approve 
 3697 votes  (22 %) 
 
Lack of political will 
 4615 votes  (28 %) 
 
U.S. pressure 
 8278 votes  (50 %) 
 
 
Total Votes: 16590 
http://www.aammi.org
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Comment #17 posted by Truth on September 28, 2004 at 05:54:02 PT
Chicago Wants Laissez-Faire Approach To Marijuana
The title is a lie.To ticket someone for using an herb that God gave them is illegal, not laissez-faire. 
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Comment #16 posted by dr slider on September 28, 2004 at 01:10:23 PT:
"Truthnews"
John Kyl(s)...what routinely? for pleasure? out of habit? in pursuit of the bottom line? You gotta wonder if these guys are just stupid enough to believe their own lies. 
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Comment #15 posted by Hope on September 27, 2004 at 23:03:24 PT
I'm Furious! I must rant! Forgive me, please.
God help me...I don't know how much longer I can hang on to patience and tolerance.I understand that the faith I follow and that I do my best to follow sincerely and well, teaches that curses and blessings shouldn’t come from the same mouth. Sometimes, it’s almost more than I can do to keep from cursing them. I have to grit my teeth and force myself to remember who I am and what I am about. Cursing is about hatred. I do not want to be about hatred. I don’t want it to get a grasp on me. I have to resist it.I'm not talking about "cussing" cursing. They’ve driven me to that before. I'm talking about CURSING them, afflicting them with a curse. I have to remember that they are doing that to themselves anyway. I want to be merciful and forgiving because I understand that they are ignorant and misled, but their pettiness and ignorance are weighing heavily on my soul.Lord, it's hard.
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Comment #14 posted by siege on September 27, 2004 at 21:06:15 PT
Just Say No to Drug Legalization
one of BUSH'S Christian based money grabbers. Walters adds that "reasoned debate on the consequences usually dampens enthusiasm, leaving many erstwhile proponents feeling mugged by reality. When has he Walters not RUN from a GOOD  debate on Marijuana! WE all wish he would debate. what is intrusting that Bush or John P have not sent in the DEA into Michigan and a fue other states.
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on September 27, 2004 at 21:00:04 PT
Overwhelmsam 
It was a really mean spirited article.
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Comment #12 posted by Overwhelmsam on September 27, 2004 at 20:20:00 PT
I read it FoM
I can't believe the extremist prohibitionist has become so proficient at spouting such thick hatred for his brothers.The guy is definately MAD! 
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Comment #11 posted by ekim on September 27, 2004 at 18:42:09 PT
"A Nice Place to Live," 
Some residents must have been taken aback in the town that has decreed itself "A Nice Place to Live," upon finding out that Darien might also be looked at as a nice place for marijuana smokers to live it up.Ann Arbor Michigan has been listed in the top 10 cities to live in and raise a family for years . You know the city that has had a ticket for small amounts of Cannabis for the last 33 years. 
http://www.aammi.org
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on September 27, 2004 at 18:38:30 PT
I Thought Some Here Might Like To Read This
I don't recognize the url so I thought it was best to post it as a link. Just Say No to Drug Legalization: http://www.truthnews.net/world/2004090226.htm
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Comment #9 posted by siege on September 27, 2004 at 15:24:10 PT
            Chuck
hay Chuck O====== what is your grip, they have stoped your** gravy train** so you will have to find some thing else to write about oh my god the world just come to an END, and some one will have to get off there donkey so they get there pay check. it mite help if you where to write about somthing that you under stand. 
50 ticket in all most 2 years is better thin 20,000 criminal prosecutes a year,or is it that you LIVE in Darien and you think the ordinance is bad and your house vaule will go down, and you think marijuana is a gateway durg, or is it that you are pissed about the **champagne brunch**. and trying to make the Mayor Richard Daley look BAD. Darien might also be looked at as a nice place for marijuana smokers to live **out of sight out of mind**.this is the way it's to be, and your out in the cold.
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Comment #8 posted by Overwhelmsam on September 27, 2004 at 13:44:49 PT
On Topic!
With all of these scared "We don't want people to get high!" cry babies, perhaps a different tact would be useful: Take them under our wing and counsel them.
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on September 27, 2004 at 10:58:15 PT
Off Topic
Ask the Candidates a Question
in the 1st Presidential DebateWEIGH IN ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT YOU!1ST DEBATE TOPIC: National Security/Foreign Policy
MODERATOR: Jim Lehrer (The NewsHour - PBS)You can Submit Questions to Mr. Lehrer via email at: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/letters.htmlPut "Presidential Debate Question from Young Voter" in subject line of email!
(please ask questions on this topic only)THEN TUNE IN and WATCH:
Date: Thursday, September 30
Time: 9:00PM (EST), CNN and other networksMore info: http://www.miami.edu/debate04/http://www.debates.org
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on September 27, 2004 at 10:46:07 PT
Off Topic
Mount St Helens Eruption Fears: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10893106%255E1702,00.html
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on September 27, 2004 at 10:19:22 PT
goneposthole
You said: Time to move legalization forward.I sure agree with you.
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Comment #4 posted by goneposthole on September 27, 2004 at 10:11:56 PT
St. Richard M. Daley
Looks a four leaf clover might be a five leaf cannabis 'clover'.The 'Luck of the Irish' is on the side of cannabis imbibers. What the heck, why not?'We do not look at this ordinance as a revenue generator'Time to move legalization forward."The fundamental story of the ordinary man is to go on out and do the best you can."- John Prine He's from Chicago.
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Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on September 27, 2004 at 09:58:51 PT
This is funny in a way
"Simple marijuana possession in Darien is treated like jaywalking or spitting on the sidewalk.
"Is this an official allegation that marijuana blocks traffic and spreads germs?I want proof! Show me the science!
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Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on September 27, 2004 at 09:47:46 PT:
Sorry, forgot the link
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on September 27, 2004 at 09:44:15 PT:
Unrelated?
A poll today on the Globe and Mail, a major Canuck news outlet:What do you think is the most likely raeson Canada has not decriminalized marijuana?A.) Most people don't approve 
 B.) Lack of political will C.) U.S. pressureNeedless to say, the vast majority blame the last reason... 
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