Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Legislation to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana is headed to Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk.
The Illinois Senate voted 37-19 Thursday to make possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana a civil violation punishable by fines between $55 and $125. Violators would not face jail time.
"There has been much talk this year about criminal justice reform and being smarter on crime," said Sen. Michael Noland, the Senate sponsor of the legislation. "With this measure the Senate and House take an important step in the right direction. The benefits we will see from this plan are innumerable."
It will be sent the governor after a second bill passes to address some concerns. One such concern addresses ensuring court records of the fines could be expunged without a court order.
Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly declined to comment on whether the governor would sign the bill, saying he would "carefully consider any legislation that crosses his desk."
Municipalities across the state, including Kankakee, Bradley and Manteno, already have local laws that give police the discretion to release with just a ticket people caught with pot. But fines locally can reach up to $750 and police still can make arrests.
What's unknown at this time is how the state law would effect our local ordinances. Of particular importance is whether the new law would trump those ordinances and whether the fine money would go directly to the state.
The vote comes the same day the Senate also approved a measure extending Illinois' medical marijuana program by two or more years. That also heads to the governor's office, although Rauner is skeptical of extending the program.
More than a dozen states have removed jail time for possessing small amounts of marijuana, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, which advocates for marijuana law reform.
Marijuana advocacy and civil liberties groups see the effort as a step toward broader marijuana decriminalization. Some Republican lawmakers object to it for the same reason.
Rep. Kelly Cassidy is the original sponsor. She has said the measure isn't about decriminalization, but addressing racial disparities in enforcing marijuana possession.
"This is not, frankly, decriminalizing. This is not legalizing," the Chicago Democrat said recent Senate committee. "This is uniform enforcement."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Get caught with pot? $125 fine - The Daily Journal: Local
Author: The Associated Press
Contact: https://ww2.daily-journal.com/news/contact.php
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Daily Journal: Serving Kankakee, Will, Iroquois, Ford, Grundy, and Livingston counties
The Illinois Senate voted 37-19 Thursday to make possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana a civil violation punishable by fines between $55 and $125. Violators would not face jail time.
"There has been much talk this year about criminal justice reform and being smarter on crime," said Sen. Michael Noland, the Senate sponsor of the legislation. "With this measure the Senate and House take an important step in the right direction. The benefits we will see from this plan are innumerable."
It will be sent the governor after a second bill passes to address some concerns. One such concern addresses ensuring court records of the fines could be expunged without a court order.
Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly declined to comment on whether the governor would sign the bill, saying he would "carefully consider any legislation that crosses his desk."
Municipalities across the state, including Kankakee, Bradley and Manteno, already have local laws that give police the discretion to release with just a ticket people caught with pot. But fines locally can reach up to $750 and police still can make arrests.
What's unknown at this time is how the state law would effect our local ordinances. Of particular importance is whether the new law would trump those ordinances and whether the fine money would go directly to the state.
The vote comes the same day the Senate also approved a measure extending Illinois' medical marijuana program by two or more years. That also heads to the governor's office, although Rauner is skeptical of extending the program.
More than a dozen states have removed jail time for possessing small amounts of marijuana, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, which advocates for marijuana law reform.
Marijuana advocacy and civil liberties groups see the effort as a step toward broader marijuana decriminalization. Some Republican lawmakers object to it for the same reason.
Rep. Kelly Cassidy is the original sponsor. She has said the measure isn't about decriminalization, but addressing racial disparities in enforcing marijuana possession.
"This is not, frankly, decriminalizing. This is not legalizing," the Chicago Democrat said recent Senate committee. "This is uniform enforcement."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Get caught with pot? $125 fine - The Daily Journal: Local
Author: The Associated Press
Contact: https://ww2.daily-journal.com/news/contact.php
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Daily Journal: Serving Kankakee, Will, Iroquois, Ford, Grundy, and Livingston counties
