Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed legislation making possession of marijuana in small amounts punishable by fines but not jail time. Marijuana possession in small amounts in Illinois will be punishable by fines but not jail time after Gov. Bruce
Rauner signed legislation that makes the state the third largest to decriminalize minor pot offenses.
The new law, which takes effect immediately, makes having 10 grams or less of marijuana will be a civil offense, punishable with a fine of up to $200. The Republican governor had been expected to sign the bill because it included language he requested after vetoing similar legislation last year. In his message to lawmakers at the time, Rauner said that existing penalties for petty marijuana offenses were too severe and that “criminal prosecution of cannabis possession is also a drain on public resources.”
The new law also sets a standard for what’s considered too impaired to drive. Currently, any trace of marijuana is enough to be considered impaired, but marijuana advocates have long criticized zero-tolerance states’ approach because marijuana can stay in a person’s system for several weeks. The new law makes the standard 5 nanograms of THC, marijuana’s intoxicating chemical, in a driver’s blood within two hours of consumption.
With Rauner’s signature, Illinois joins 16 other states, including New York and California, that have decriminalized marijuana possession in small amounts.
Police chiefs and sheriffs have expressed hesitations verbally:
“You’re giving individuals more opportunities for drug usage,” said Laimutis Nargelenas, a former lobbyist for the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the current police chief for the Springfield Park District.
He said authorities are in progress on developing paperwork for traffic infractions to monitor how many people are driving high across the state because of the law change.
“Fundamentally, this is about how we utilize our limited law enforcement resources,” said Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat.
“We’re treating people really differently across the state, and we should be really getting out of that,” said Chicago Democratic Sen. Heather Steans, another bill sponsor.
The bill Rauner vetoed last year set guidelines that were less strict than the new law. Lawmakers wanted possession of up to 15 grams of marijuana to be a civil offense punishable with a fine between $55 and $125. Lawmakers also initially proposed that the standard for a marijuana DUI be 15 nanograms