cannabisnews.com: Chicago Aldermen Consider Ticket for Marijuana Use
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Chicago Aldermen Consider Ticket for Marijuana Use
Posted by CN Staff on October 28, 2011 at 07:01:31 PT
By John Byrne, Tribune Reporter
Source: Chicago Tribune
Illinois -- Chicago aldermen are wading into the controversy over drug enforcement with a proposal to decriminalize possessing small amounts of marijuana in the city.Supporters say the ordinance — which Ald. Daniel Solis, 25th, plans to introduce at next week's City Council meeting — will raise revenue for the city and free up police to chase more serious criminals.
If the plan passes, people caught in Chicago with 10 grams or less of marijuana would get a $200 ticket and up to 10 hours of community service, instead of facing a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,500 fine.Chicago police get tied up making about 23,000 arrests each year for marijuana possession, said Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey, D-Chicago, who appeared Thursday at a news conference with Solis and other aldermen."It is not time to act tough on crime, it is (time) to be smart on crime. We need our resources spent somewhere else," Fritchey said.Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy has mentioned the possibility of issuing tickets for marijuana possession as a way to keep his officers on the streets.During a City Council budget hearing Thursday, McCarthy said he was "OK with making it a very simple summary arrest with a ticket, something along those lines." Ald. Walter Burnett, 27th, said people arrested for marijuana possession are disproportionately minorities, who now end up with arrests on their criminal records even though the vast majority of the cases are eventually dismissed."I had the opportunity to go to Lollapalooza, Pitchfork, and I think I got contact high being at all those events," Burnett said. "Police there, everything. It wasn't predominantly African-American, and guess what? No one got arrested at those events. If that was an African-American event, the jails would probably be filled up. I think it's almost a discrimination issue."Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has complained that the Cook County Jail and courts are jammed with petty marijuana offenders. She released a statement Thursday saying "taxpayers deserve our resources to be spent more productively — on long-term infrastructure projects and on alternative diversion programs for our youth population who circulate through the criminal justice system." Authorities can already write tickets for marijuana possession in several suburbs and in areas of Cook County patrolled by the sheriff's department, Fritchey said.But Amy Ronshausen, manager of congressional and legislative affairs for the nonprofit Drug Free America Foundation, said decriminalization efforts often have unintended effects, like normalizing drug use."Once you start treating it like a traffic or speeding ticket, we've seen drug use start to go up," Ronshausen said. She also expressed concern that people issued tickets don't have the same chances to get drug treatment as those who go to court.Solis expects his ordinance to go through months of hearings and likely changes, but the alderman said he expects it will become law.Mayor Rahm Emanuel has not taken a position but has asked McCarthy to look into it, mayoral spokeswoman Chris Mather said.Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)Author: John Byrne, Tribune ReporterPublished: October 28, 2011Copyright: 2011 Chicago Tribune CompanyWebsite: http://www.chicagotribune.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/bZadtqSyContact: http://drugsense.org/url/DKtD0QMfCannabisNews  -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #7 posted by Canis420 on October 28, 2011 at 21:44:29 PT:
Whitehouse.gov petition
Good old Gil responded to one of the Cannabis petitions. Same ole same ole thoughhttps://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/!/petition/demand-amendment-us-constitution-end-marijuana-marihuana-cannabis-and-hemp-prohibition/PS60SlPF?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl
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Comment #6 posted by Paul Pot on October 28, 2011 at 21:30:14 PT:
legalize entirely
It's sad that one punishment is substituted for another, it should be legalized entirely but reducing the punishment is a step in the right direction.
Sad also that this ticket is seen as revenue raising. It would be so much better if people were able to profit from the cannabis industry legitimately then we could pay tax on the profits we make.
Thank goodness there are more officials who are willing to discuss the negative impact of prohibition and sad that we still have others who are willing to perpetuate the same old lies.
Hopefully we can find the liars a cosy bed in the local goal when full legalization does arrive.
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Comment #5 posted by The GCW on October 28, 2011 at 16:21:43 PT
The good and the pathetic.
Ronshausen's logic to continue caging responsible adults for using the plant cannabis is pathetic.It's commendable to read police types seem to be receptive.
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Comment #4 posted by schmeff on October 28, 2011 at 12:59:43 PT
Arresting Information.
If the information above is correct, 63 people are arrested in Chicago EVERY DAY for cannabis possession !! No wonder the pigs are "tied-up" arresting non-criminals.Seriously. I can not imagine what other offense generates more than 63 arrests a day in Chicago.Even so, issuing these people tickets instead of arresting them won't free up much pork time. 
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Comment #3 posted by runruff on October 28, 2011 at 09:32:31 PT
Memo!
Dear jerry,
 
The federal assault on medical marijuana patients and providers is escalating.
 
The best way to ensure that medical marijuana patients and providers no longer have to live in fear of federal authorities is to end federal marijuana prohibition altogether. 
Right now, there is a bill sitting in Congress that would end federal marijuana prohibition and protect the ability of states to make their own marijuana laws without federal interference. Urge your representative to support this bill to end federal marijuana prohibition today!
 
Multiple federal agencies are working in tandem to assault medical marijuana patients and providers. The DEA is raiding licensed and regulated dispensaries that are legal under state law. The ATF is discriminating against medical marijuana patients by prohibiting them from owning firearms. The IRS is rejecting standard business expense tax deductions from legitimate medical marijuana providers. And federal threats have intimidated banks and landlords into refusing to do business with the medical marijuana industry. Even free speech is under attack -- at least one federal prosecutor is threatening to target newspapers that accept medical marijuana advertising.
 
Last week, for the first time ever a Gallup Poll found that 50 percent of all Americans want marijuana legalized. We have reached the tipping point -- now let’s seize this opportunity! Tell your legislators to get in line with public opinion by ending the federal war on marijuana and allowing states to decide their own marijuana laws -- free from federal interference.
 
With your help, we can protect medical marijuana patients and providers from these outrageous assaults by ending federal marijuana prohibition.
 
Sincerely,
 
Bill Piper
Director, Office of National Affairs
Drug Policy Alliance 
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Comment #2 posted by dongenero on October 28, 2011 at 08:16:01 PT
Amy Ronshausen's job
The continuation of her job and livelihood depends on any means she can muster to maintain full prohibition of as many illegal drugs as possible. Paying her mortgage is based on her ability to lobby for subjecting her fellow citizens to punitive policies for making personal choices.
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Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on October 28, 2011 at 07:22:25 PT
Amy Ronshausen is lying:
"Once you start treating it like a traffic or speeding ticket, we've seen drug use start to go up,"This is not the experience in the Netherlands or Portugal Amy! Stop feeding us lies, that is what your position is based on, get a clue! But you won't because your job depends on it.
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