Wind isn’t the only thing blowing on the streets of Chicago.
Several Chicago councilmen said on Thursday they plan to introduce new legislation that effectively decriminalizes marijuana in small amounts. Instead of being arrested, if you are in possession of less than 10 grams you would be fined two-hundred dollars, twenty hours of community service, and be sent on your way.
“It is not time to act tough on crime; it is (time) to be smart on crime. We need our resources spent somewhere else,” says the county commissioner.
From WBEZ-Chicago (which you may have heard Ira Glass say countless times):
The City Council is going to vote, not in the “hey, smoke em if you got em” decriminalization, but more of a, Here’s an orange ticket for your weed possession instead of a weekend trip to County. The aldermen are pushing this through, although the mayor and police chief are a bit mum (they are open to it, but need to see how it would work). It’s like an episode of “The Wire,” but in Chicago over dime bags.
Parking in a handicapped spot and smoking a doobie in public will essentially be met with the same punishment. Or, for that matter, smoking a doobie in public and then accidentally parking in a handicapped spot. No more pot jokes, though, I swear.
Right now the Chicago police department makes about 23,000 arrests per year for marijuana possession. And in case you were wondering what the toll is now, 11 states have decriminalized it, and 18 the drug allow for medical use.
Although President Obama began his term saying he was in favor of reforming laws concerning marijuana’s regulation, no concrete measures on a federal level have been taken. Additionally, marijuana-related arrests have risen since he took office.
The feds have also cracked down on dispensaries in California, prompting an ongoing battle whose decision might affect medical marijuana’s legality across the country. The federal government has also uncovered a loophole in the tax code to effectively wage war on pot dispensaries using the IRS.
It’s an issue that illuminates the power of states and local government. Chicago police were facing budget cuts, and they needed to reassess where their resources were being spent, so they’re axing marijuana laws. Ultimately it’s up to states and local municipalities to make the call, since it’s catching on now and the federal government will likely be unable to overturn these laws—at least on a local level.
October 28, 2011 at 2:51 pm, Shaleen said:
Are you serious with those tired excuses for jokes in the title and subtitle? Good God, it embarrasses me to even read it. Be edgy and clever. Don’t be this way. It’s painful and makes me not want to read your article.
October 28, 2011 at 2:59 pm, Scottie Spliffin said:
Someone needs to (be) lighten up. It’s a story about marijuana. Jokes are obligatory. How would you be edgy?
October 28, 2011 at 3:44 pm, Shaleen said:
I thought the paragraph from WBEZ was pretty good. It shows how you can be light and clever without making tired, obvious puns that literally make people groan aloud.
October 28, 2011 at 4:19 pm, BluButtaflyKiss said:
looks like im may be moving….lol
October 29, 2011 at 2:28 am, Vincent Von Dudler said:
There is a way to ensure the federal government doesn’t raid any more medical marijuana dispensaries. We need to remove its power via legislation. Pass H.R. 2306 and limit the federal government’s power to enforcing only cross-border trafficking. Regardless of how you stand on the marijuana debate we can all agree it should be left up to the states and the federal crackdown is an abuse that states should not have to tolerate.
Tell your representatives -> http://pvox.co/CdiFqY
“[Prohibition] attempts to control a man’s appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes.” – Abraham Lincoln
October 30, 2011 at 12:06 pm, Anonymous said:
I don’t smoke it (inhale), but I think they should legalize it and then tax the crap out of it. Same process for prohibition and legalization of alcahol! Also true of tobacco, make money off it.
lol
np
October 31, 2011 at 5:47 am, North face winter coats said:
Should it be alright if I use this so long I personal reference