CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Ill. (STNG) ― If you get caught with small amounts of marijuana in Chicago Heights, you'll no longer face criminal charges.
Instead, you'll get a ticket and go through an administrative hearing in city court, according to a new ordinance approved Monday night by the city council.
The city used its home rule authority to make the change. The new ordinance applies to those found with less than 30 grams of marijuana.
City attorney TJ Somer said addressing such offenses as ordinance violations rather than crimes helps "unclog" the criminal justice system while providing extra revenue for the city.
That's because the city doesn't have to share revenue from fines with the Cook County Circuit Court system.
hey im moving to chi heights ands need a roomate any takers
12/02/2008 11:44AM
roommate
Ever been to Chicago Heights? I'd re-think moving there. Pot or no Pot, it ain't the nicest place to live.
12/02/2008 2:10PM
Pot SHOULD be legal
or at the very least de-criminalized. All that crap about it being a "gateway drug" is a LIE. In fact marijuana is the most LIED ABOUT substance in history. Do you know the reason why it's illegal? Back when prohibition was repealed they needed somthing for the other-wise un-employed feds and anti- alcohol enforcement agencies to do so they made pot illegal. Because back then mostly minorities (Blacks Hispanics and Jazz Musicians) used it it was relatively easy to lie about it was a great tool to oppress and control minorities. It does NOT lead to other drugs nor does it lead to anti-social or criminal behaviour. It,also does not lead to any kind of irresponsibility. Speaking personally, I've been a lifelong regular pot smoker and I am wealthy,with a home in the north shore a wife,children and a four car garage.In other words ,I'm a NORMAL HUMAN BEING and I smoke pot. I say once again that pot should be legal and I applaud the actions of the City oh Chicago Heights
12/02/2008 2:43PM
About time
We should stop wasting money and jail space. If no body else is being harmed, there should be no crime. There are so many more heinous crimes being committed. I used to smoke pot, and now the worst I do is an occasional beer. My husband prefers whisky. So much for that Gateway lie.
12/02/2008 4:11PM
Mr Voter
How about doing this in the whole state and tax it to boot...sell in stores must be 21 yrs .....it will stop the gangs fighting for tuff and let cops fight real crime!
12/02/2008 6:22PM
Sanity in Goverment??
Wow! a community that has started in the right direction! Agree with previous posts. This should not be criminal ever. Problem with this and other non-criminalization of drug offenses will seriously hurt several groups. Most against are illegal drug dealers and distributors. Next are pharmaceutical companies and to a smaller extent alcohol beverage makers and finally the DEA alot of whom would be out of a job. So with all that serious money against legalization I sadly doubt it will happen.
12/02/2008 7:16PM
Mr Voter
No the DEA can go after the new terror gangs they are more fimalar with these new threats,dotors can help the pharmacutical compaies can define diffrent levels for al kinds of cancers, aids, etc. etc. and the New enterprise can sell their ware for peolple over 21 driving rules apply and common sense too, tax it and sell licenses to grow and distrubite to know what your getting ...like the casino licenes only set a higher number to make profit from this with a strong electeed official to step up and say since 1932 this war on drugs is a total failure we need to stop this war on Americans ....we will continue to fall into a hole of tax tax tax and lock'em mentally
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