Pubdate: Fri, 02 Sep 2016
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2016 Sun-Times Media, LLC
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/bf0vhqGQ
Website: http://www.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81
Author: Tina Sfondeles

STATE SUPREME COURT SETS RULES FOR POT DECRIMINALIZATION LAW

The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday announced it has created new 
rules for the state's cannabis decriminalization law - including 
setting a $ 120 fine for those caught with up to 10 grams of cannabis 
or drug paraphernalia.

The law, which Gov. Bruce Rauner signed on July 29, gave the state 
Supreme Court the authority to further clarify the newly defined 
"civil law violation" of possessing up to 10 grams of cannabis or 
drug paraphernalia.

Under the law, the violation is punishable by a fine between $ 100 
and $ 200. In one of six newly created rules, the fine was set at $ 
120 per violation.

Before the law was created, that offense was considered a Class B 
misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and fines up to $ 
1,500. Possession of drug paraphernalia was a Class A misdemeanor 
punishable by up to one year of imprisonment and a fine between $ 750 
and $ 2,500.

In another, a rule was created to give circuit court clerks the 
ability to expunge a record after a cannabis violation is resolved. 
The rule changed the language in a record-keeping manual to give 
clerks that authority. The new rule also changed the manual's 
language to ensure the confidentiality of offenders under age 18.

Additionally, a new rule allows those who are cited for civil law 
violations to pay the $ 120 fine by mail without having to appear in 
court - which is similar to the process for minor traffic violations.

Under the law, tickets will be automatically expunged on Jan. 1 and 
July 1 every year.

Rauner signed the legislation in July after vetoing a bill last year 
that sought to allow slightly larger amounts of marijuana to be 
treated with leniency.

The new law also addresses driving under the influence of pot, 
setting a scientific standard for the amount of marijuana's THC in 
the blood stream that would prompt an arrest. Previously, the state 
had a zero tolerance policy. Even a trace of marijuana in a 
motorist's blood could lead to a DUI.

The bill's chief Senate sponsor, Sen. Heather Steans, D- Chicago, has 
argued that 98 percent of the more than 50,000 marijuana-related 
arrests in Illinois each year are for small amounts, intended for personal use.

Last year, the governor vetoed a bill that would have made possession 
of up to 15 grams of pot a ticketable offense; Rauner said at the 
time that it would allow people to carry too much pot and that fines 
should be more than $ 55 to $ 125.

Chicago has already joined more than 100 Illinois local governments 
in removing some criminal penalties for people caught with lesser 
amounts of marijuana. But the new law extends decriminalization to 
the entire state.

Illinois is now the 21st state to decriminalize possession of 
marijuana in small amounts, according to the National Conference of 
State Legislatures.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom