Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jun 2008
Source: Beacon News, The (Aurora, IL)
Copyright: 2008 The Beacon News
Contact:  http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3800
Author: Dan Linn

POT LAW SHOULD REDUCE ARRESTS

The Aurora City Council has passed an ordinance that would allow 
police to issue citations to those found to be in possession of less 
than 30 grams of marijuana.

Police Chief Greg Thomas has valiantly pledged to continue arresting 
and booking these non-violent offenders, despite the new ordinance 
that gives his officers the option of issuing citations. In a day and 
age when our court dockets are clogged, police resources are already 
spread thin, and jails are overcrowded, I have to wonder if Chief 
Thomas' tough love is the right policy.

Our laws have done nothing to curb marijuana use. Americans are now 
arrested for marijuana possession, not sale or cultivation, at a rate 
of one person every 42 seconds.

It would behoove Chief Thomas to use this new ordinance to his, and 
the taxpayers', advantage.

Dan Linn

Executive Director, Illinois NORML

Sycamore
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