Dear Neighbor,

Yesterday, the Chicago City Council voted 43-2 to pass an ordinance that would ticket people who are caught with small amounts of cannabis with fines from $250 to $500 instead of arresting them.

This ordinance will allow Chicago police to issue pot-possession tickets as soon as August.  By 10 AM yesterday morning, the 35th Ward Office had received 1,056 requests to support this measure which the City Council has been debating.  To date, no one has contacted the 35th Ward Office to lobby against it.

Most court prosecutions for possessing a small amount of cannabis are dismissed and have done nothing to deter having or using it.  This ordinance will authorize police to issue tickets for anyone caught in possession of 15 grams or less.  The measure is aimed at freeing up police officers and keeping them on the street.  Today, police spend precious time writing reports and getting paid overtime for court for cases that almost always get dismissed.

This ordinance is not new to Illinois.  Chicago will join other municipalities in the state and other parts of the country that already issue citations instead of arrest for the possession of marijuana. Young people under age 17 will still be arrested for marijuana possession.  In addition, people who are apprehended for publicly smoking, carrying or selling marijuana on a park or school ground will continue to be arrested.  Many of the police from other towns who already fine pot offenders claim that it is more punitiveand a greater deterrent than a dismissed arrest charge.  What do you think?

Respectfully,

Alderman Rey Colón
City of Chicago, 35th Ward