Emanuel Supports Decriminalizing Small Amounts Of Cannabis - Polidicks

[quote]Mayor [URL="http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/politics/government/rahm-emanuel-PEPLT000007532.topic"]Rahm Emanuel[/URL] is throwing his support behind a plan to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. Under the proposed ordinance, police officers will have the discretion to issue tickets with fines ranging from $100 to $500 for people carrying 15 grams or less of pot. Last fall, Ald. [URL="http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/politics/government/daniel-solis-PEPLT007981.topic"]Danny Solis[/URL], 25th, introduced a similar plan, selling the idea as a way to raise revenue for the city and free up police to chase more serious criminals. Emanuel is backing a modified version of Solis' ordinance. “When the ordinance was first introduced, I asked the[URL="http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/crime-law-justice/police/chicago-police-department-ORGOV000080.topic"]Chicago Police Department[/URL] to do a thorough analysis to determine if this reform balanced public safety and common-sense rules that save taxpayer dollars to reinvest in putting more officers on the street,” Emanuel said in a statement. “The result is an ordinance that allows us to observe the law, while reducing the processing time for minor possession of marijuana — ultimately freeing up police officers for the street.” Currently people caught in possession face a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,500 fine. Chicago Police Department statistics indicate that last year there were 18,298 arrests for possession of less than 10 grams of cannabis, according to the mayor's office. Each case involves approximately four officers — two arresting and two transporting officers — and places an additional burden on the Cook County court and jail system. Chicago Police Superintendent [URL="http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/crime-law-justice/police/law-enforcement/garry-mccarthy-PEPLT00008426.topic"]Garry McCarthy[/URL] estimates that the new ordinance will free up more than 20,000 hours of police time, which he estimates is the equivalent of about $1 million in savings. “I am pleased that Mayor Emanuel has taken this step to address this important issue," Solis said in a statement. "One of the most significant results of this ordinance is that it will allow our police officers to spend more time out policing our neighborhoods and less time processing minor offenses and filling out paperwork. Passing this ordinance will be a major victory in promoting safe neighborhoods and reducing crime." [URL="http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/politics/cook-county-board-of-commissioners-ORGOV000084.topic"]Cook County Board[/URL] President [URL="http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/politics/government/toni-preckwinkle-PEPLT00007618.topic"]Toni Preckwinkle[/URL] has previously expressed support for such a plan, saying that the Cook County Jail and courts are jammed with petty marijuana offenders. She has said: "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." [/quote][URL="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-emanuel-backs-decriminalizing-small-amounts-of-marijuana-20120615,0,691997.story"] http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-emanuel-backs-decriminalizing-small-amounts-of-marijuana-20120615,0,691997.story[/URL] Fuck yeah we're doing something right for once.

Maybe in case like this you might want to do a bit more than just past the article title into the thread title, because although it's explained in the article, not many people know who Emanuel is, and that can lead to pointless confusion. "Chicago Mayor Supports..." would do a better job I dare to say.

[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;36341203]Maybe in case like this you might want to do a bit more than just past the article title into the thread title, because although it's explained in the article, not many people know who Emanuel is, and that can lead to pointless confusion. "Chicago Mayor Supports..." would do a better job I dare to say.[/QUOTE] I though that too, but it says in the article "Chicago Police Department"

Oh wow, a friend of mine just got arrested for having a small amount of pot on him, great.

Fuck that, 25 to Life like in California :v:

I'm glad this is being done, will this only be in Chicago or Cook County in general? I'm tired of seeing 4 squad cars arresting some kid over 1 gram and then see only 1 car at a bad domestic violence dispute.

15g is quite a lot.

I thought possession was misdemeanor.. so they necessarily dont have to go to jail. I'm all for the tickets to lessen the impact on the jails.

While I don't really see a reason to make possession on a small scale illegal, 15 grams sounds like quite a lot.

[QUOTE=SCopE5000;36343617]15g is quite a lot.[/QUOTE] That's only a little over a half ounce, which isn't that much. I go through that in under a week.

[QUOTE=SCopE5000;36343617]15g is quite a lot.[/QUOTE] You must not smoke then.

[QUOTE=soccerskyman;36344484]You must not smoke then.[/QUOTE] To be fair - for occasional smokers like myself - 15g is indeed a lot. A 25 bag (roughly 2grams) can last me a week to even a month. It doesn't take me a lot at all to get high, seeing as my tolerance is extremely low. However, for regular smokers, 15g is most like a pittance as your tolerance levels would be much higher. I smoke maybe once or twice every 4 months or so, so my tolerance is always low.

[QUOTE=loopoo;36346627]To be fair - for occasional smokers like myself - 15g is indeed a lot. A 25 bag (roughly 2grams) can last me a week to even a month. It doesn't take me a lot at all to get high, seeing as my tolerance is extremely low. However, for regular smokers, 15g is most like a pittance as your tolerance levels would be much higher. I smoke maybe once or twice every 4 months or so, so my tolerance is always low.[/QUOTE] 25 for 2gs? I hope it's so dank there is vapor coming out of the bag.

[QUOTE=its shortie;36344199]That's only a little over a half ounce, which isn't that much. I go through that in under a week.[/QUOTE] Damnit do you get dirt weed or not? You said you get 1/8ths for 20! A half o here would be like 200 or something [editline]15th June 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Krype;36347103]25 for 2gs? I hope it's so dank there is vapor coming out of the bag.[/QUOTE] Are you and shortie in Willy Wonkas Weed land or do you smoke reggies?

[QUOTE=Chicken_Chaser;36347533]Damnit do you get dirt weed or not? You said you get 1/8ths for 20! A half o here would be like 200 or something [editline]15th June 2012[/editline] Are you and shortie in Willy Wonkas Weed land or do you smoke reggies?[/QUOTE] $25 for 3.5g of good weed is the standard where I live. Really depends on how available it is.

If this happens, I am throwing the best party, all Illinois FPers are invited! (Not really, maybe, you'll have to convince me.)

[QUOTE=Krype;36347103]25 for 2gs? I hope it's so dank there is vapor coming out of the bag.[/QUOTE] It's 60 for a sack where I'm at for dank and mids are around 25. Welcome to the Midwest, partner.

[QUOTE=Pirate Jok3r;36347977]It's 60 for a sack where I'm at for dank and mids are around 25. Welcome to the Midwest, partner.[/QUOTE] :respek:

Damn, all this is making that party idea sound pretty damn good, I just might actually do this.

We've already got something similar here in Boston. Living the dream.

Everything is more expensive in the Midwest than anyone expects.