Chicago Sun-Times, Thur, March 3rd, 1994

By Fran Spielman

Marijuana penalty: The penalty for possession of small quantities

of marijuana would be cut from 30 days in jail and a $500 fine to

a $250 fine and no jail time under a proposal by Council Police

Committee Chairman William Beavers (7th). Critics said it would

send a dangerous message to young people. Under the ordinance,

people charged with possession of less than 2.5 grams of marijuana

would be treated like parking ticket scofflaws. Instead of going

to court, they would appear before a city hearing officer.

Beavers, a former Chicago police officer, said his goal is not to

slap marijuana users on the wrist but to unclog the overburdened

court system.

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Chicago Tribune, Thursday, March 3, 1994 Sec. 2, page 2

ALDERMAN MOVES TO FURTHER DECRIMINALIZE SMOKING OF MARIJUANA

By John Kass

Tribune Staff Writer

Pot smokers in Chicago would pay a $250 ticket rather than be

hauled into criminal court under a measure introduced Wednesday to

the Chicago City Council by Ald. William Beavers (7th), a former

police officer.

Most alderman publicly denounced the notion as evil incarnate,

then privately said it wasn't so bad after all.

Still Mayor RIchard Daley didn't think much of it.

"I can't figure that out because if you can't smoke cigarettes at

City Hall, should we allow people to smoke marijuana?" Daley

joked.

The idea would decriminalize an already but decriminalized drug.

Possession of small amounts of marijuana is not considered a big-

time crime by state lawmakers. The offence is a Class C

misdemeanor, with a conviction bringing a sentence of up to 30

days in jail and a $500 fine.

But with courts and jails crowded to the point that violent

offenders are let out on bond the same day they are arrested, the

penalties for possession 2.5 grams or less are usually court

supervision and an admonishment by the judge.

Under Beavers' plan, those caught by police with 2.5 grams of

marijuana or less would be ordered to pay the $250 fine by the

city, rather than go through court and have a drug arrest on their

record.

The measure would direct the police to file charges under the

proposed city ordinance rather than the state law.

"Let's be realistic about what happens in court and on the

street," Beavers said. "Pot smokers get slapped on the wrist, they

clog up the court, and it costs a lot of money to taxpayers to get

them in court. This way, the city gets some revenue, and they have

to pay real hard cash, which hurts more than a slap on the wrist."

The Mayor, who is also the former Cook County state's attorney,

didn't think the idea would work.

"I doubt it. I was a prosecutor," the mayor said. "They won't pay

$250. You'd rather get a piece of paper rather than pay $250. The

courts give you a probation, they don't give you a fine."

Some alderman said the political risks were too great and that

their constituents would be angry that a negative message would be

sent to their children.

"The people of the 11th Ward would oppose anything like that,"

said Ald. Patrick Hules (11th).

But several others weren't so opposed to Beavers' plan. Aldermen

Mary Ann Smith (48th) and Richard Mell (33rd), among others, said

they could support the concept if it would help decongest criminal

court calls and focus police efforts on violent criminals.

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