Chicago Mayor Daley Favours Decriminalizing Possession Of "Small Amounts" Of Pot

First, profuse apologies on the ever-changing template and style of my blog. I've really messed it up and it's going to take some time to straighten it out, as I didn't save my prior template set (way to go, me!)

I wanted to mention a news item that I stumbled across today, about halfway through the Metro section of the Chicago Tribune---in other words, buried.
I had to read it over a few times to believe what I was reading--or at least to believe that I was reading correctly.

According to today's Tribune, Mayor Richard M. Daley is considering a proposal to change the law for "offenders" who get arrested (and have to go to court), when discovered to have a "small amount of marijuana" on their person.

At a news conference on Sept 21, 2004, Mayor Daley said that he agreed that it made no sense for cops to go through the motions of pursuing arrest for possessing a small amount of pot when "99% of the cases are dismissed."
In his carefully written plea to the mayor, the officer composing it pointed out that if citations (fines or tickets) were given out, "offenders" could just pay their fines--thus admitting guilt and the City would be "X" amount richer between getting back lost cop (donut?) time and accumulating marijuana fines.

This amounts to decriminalization of small amounts of pot "for personal use" in the City of Chicago.

That's pretty wild, given all the ranting and raving that the Federal govt is doing.
I'm quite sure there'll be political ramifications for Daley if he does move to make it law, though no worries--Daley, like his father before him, is "Mayor For Life."

One thing I can say about the son of the "great Richard J. Daley"--he's fearless. Mayor Richard Daley is a bulldog--with a weakness for trees and flowers and public art, and he's not above stepping over or even on obstacles to what he believes is the proper course for Chicago to pursue.

I smell the winds of change, and they smell a bit like burning rope. :D

Comments

[Her Brother]

How can so much time and money have been spent on eradicating harmless hemp when ragweed causes so much more grief in this country? Legalize pot! Ban ragweed!

Good point. Yet another logical argument for legalization

--Sis

[Kelly]

I like this format.

And I am glad the city is deciding to decriminalize the plant. I wish they would forgo the fines, though. It is ridiculous that we can have bioengineered foods and legal medications that cause violence and suicide, but a plant is illegal.

I'm in total agreement with you Kelly, though I think we are going to have to go through the silliness of fines before full decriminalization is a reality.