For the most part, it is illegal to smoke or possess marijuana throughout the United States. Each state passes its own laws with varying degrees of fines if one is caught with weed. In Illinois, possession of marijuana is classified as a misdemeanor offense as long as the total weight is 30 grams or less. (30 grams is equal to about one ounce.) Now some Cook County Commissioners and Chicago Aldermen want to reduce the severity of a “pot bust” simply because the “war on drugs” has failed. If this happens, a cigarette smoker could be in more trouble for puffing than someone sucking on a blunt depending on the level of the fine.
Is nicotine really worse than narcotics? I don’t think so. Government would rather decriminalize the drug because they have been unsuccessful in suppressing it. How pathetic for elected officials to admit their failure in suppressing drug use instead of figuring out how to stop it!
I find it insane that elected officials are waving the white flag on drug use, yet tobacco users are treated like pariahs.
I was saddened a few months ago when Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said that she had spoken with Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy about halting arrests for low-level drug possession offenses. She said, “I suggested to him that although the law is pretty clear that such possession is a violation of the law, that since the judges routinely and almost universally dismiss such low-level drug charges, that the police might stop arresting people for this, since it clogs up our jail and these people … their cases will be dismissed out anyway.”
So the highest-elected official in Cook County, someone elected to enforce the law, has instructed a police superintendent to ignore the LAW because there are too many offenses to prosecute and it clogs up the legal system!
Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey (D-12th) joined Alderman Richard Mell (D-33rd), Alderman Walter Burnett (D-27th), Alderman Danny Solis (D-25) and Alderman. Ariel Reboyras (D-30th) in announcing that Solis will introduce a proposal at this week’s city council meeting to make possession of up to 10 grams a $200 ticket, with up to 10 hours of community service.
According to Fritchey, Chicago police make about 23,000 arrests each year for marijuana possession, which is currently a class b misdemeanor in the city punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $1,500 fine. Fritchey says that police and court personnel get tied up dealing with those arrestees. But isn’t that why the court system exists? To process criminals? His justification for wanting the decriminalization? "It is not time to act tough on crime, it is (time) to be smart on crime.” That makes no sense! It is always the right time to be tough on crime!
If I wanted to be really nasty, I would research court records and see which of this selective group of elected officials have ever been arrested for drug use. I can just about guarantee a few of them probably have.
Marijuana should be legal 100%. The government could get revenue by taxing it. Cigarettes are what should be illegal in this country. Marijuana is not addicting, doesn't harm your longs, and helps numerous people with health problems such as cancer. Cigarettes lead to cancer and marijuana makes cancer beatable. It doesn't seem right that marijuana is what's illegal.
ReplyDeleteSince so many people smoke it and carry out normal lives..I think it should definitely be legal. Tax it and get money back for the state!
ReplyDeleteI just can't believe that anyone in 2011 thinks marijuana users should still have the hammer bought down on them. Legalizing and taxing it will generate more revenue for the County and keep those individuals out of our already-crowded jails. There's not a scintilla of evidence that the War on Drugs has worked at all - why waste resources on failed policy?
ReplyDeleteMy personal feeling is that all drugs be de-criminalized, controlled and taxed heavily. The control would include registration as a user. The ultimate effect will be to reduce significantly the jail population, the time of the courts and the police, the livelihood of gang-bangers and restoration of peace in Mexico. That could have an indirect effect on illegal border crossings. There always will be some illegal trade in all that stuff, particularly where “under-agers” are involved, just as there is an illegal trade in providing beer and booze to kids now. But the greater problem, with its criminality — particularly street crimes and gang shootouts — will fade away over the years.
ReplyDeleteWe didn’t succeed with prohibition. We haven’t succeeded with drugs. Why not cut government cost, increase government revenue and end the slaughter
You are missing the point on this, arresting these low level smokers costs the states billions. If you are a repeat offender, it could be jail time which you pay for too. Isn't the money better spent on hard crime instead of arresting someone for smoking a joint? review your thoughts.......lol
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing up the alcohol prohibition of the 20s & 30s Bob - alcohol may not be a narcotic (depending on whose definition is used), but it still significantly affects the brain & body - in some ways more than marijuana (& vice versa of course).
ReplyDeleteConsider that a person who never has touched alcohol physiologically can consume enough in one night to end his or her life, while there has yet to be one single documented case of death due to marijuana overdose (Im including only deaths caused directly by the substance itself). If the impetus for the prohibition of anything is a concern for the common welfare, alcohol easily should be prohibited far sooner than marijuana. I dont think either needs to be prohibited though - rather, I feel both should be completely legal but regulated. Sure it's legal to drink alcohol, but not while operating heavy machinery (including vehicles) - while prohibited the enforcement of similar regulations pertaining to weed is practically impossible. (I realize there are complications involved, but the principle remains unaltered.)