Pot bill would reduce penalties

Posted on March 8, 2015

New bill would reduce penalties for pot possession. (Flickr/dank depot)

By Terry James

SPRINGFIELD – Under current Illinois law, a few grams of pot could put you in jail and leave you owing a major fine. 

Democratic State Representative Kelly Cassidy has proposed a bill would make the possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana punishable by only a $125 fine and no jail time.  Chris Lindsey is a legislative analyst and represents the Marijuana Policy Project.  He said the bill will save the state money and avoid prison overcrowding.

"We all grew up in an environment in which we are told if you give people access to this drug without wrecking their lives and sending a message to everyone else really bad things are going to happen," said Lindsey "That simply is not the case."

Many cities in Illinois have already passed local ordinances that give the officer a choice to only issue a citation for possession of small amounts of pot.  The bill would also keep the violation from being a permanent part of someone's criminal record.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

 

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