Evanston Decreases Penalties For Pot Possession

The Evanston City Council unanimously approved an ordinance decreasing penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana. If a person is found in possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana, police can be fine them $50 to $500. Previously, if a person possessed between 2.5 and 10 grams, one would face six months in jail and/or up to a $1,500 fine. The Tribune writes:

"If we pass this ordinance, we would have more of our young people who could get jobs," (Evanston Mayor Elizabeth) Tisdahl said at a council subcommittee meeting earlier this month. "Police spend much more time arresting someone than they do ticketing them, so we would have police spending more time on the street dealing with more serious criminals.”

A few Chicago officials have come out in favor of decriminalizing marijuana in the city, including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, who want to decrease the number of nonviolent criminals in the prison system. In fact, Evanston's new policy is similar to one Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey and a number of Chicago aldermen proposed in October. Ald. Proco Joe Moreno went so far as to say "legalize it," but Mayor Rahm Emanuel as yet undecided on the pot issue.