House approves bill to decriminalize marijuana in Illinois

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Possessing small amounts of marijuana in Illinois would be punished by ticket

SPRINGFIELD — A bill that cleared the Illinois House on Thursday by a bipartisan 62-53 vote would put possession of small amounts of marijuana on par with traffic tickets.

The proposal by Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, would make a possession of 15 grams (about half an ounce) or less a civil law offense punishable by a maximum fine of $125.

The measure, House Bill 218, does not make marijuana a legal substance.

Cassidy said her intent is to bring uniformity to a patchwork of more than 100 local government ordinances that vary tremendously regarding amount of the drug and size of the fine.

Cassidy and bill supporters said the measure also is in line with the governor’s call for sentencing reform and decreased prison crowding, and it frees police time for more pressing matters.

And, not least, the...

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URL: 
http://www.rebootillinois.com/2015/04/24/editors-picks/mark-fitton/house-approves-bill-to-decriminalize-marijuana-in-illinois/36840/