Friends of Mary Jane.....come to unincorporated Cook CO. IL

[Elendil]

Possession of small amounts of marijuana in unincorporated Cook County could be penalized like a traffic ticket rather than prosecuted criminally, under a measure approved by the county board Tuesday.

Link to full story: Daily Herald | Cook County decriminalizes small amounts of marijuana

 

[Mary Kay]

Well all the "friends" can stop by on the way to MJ friendly California!

 

[.308]

Here in WA it's just a ticket

 

[Surf Monkey]

Pretty much the same in Oregon. Just a fine if it's under an OZ.

 

[jeffakamax]

And what does the FDA say about this? LOL!

 

[freedomendured]

It's about time. IT's a colossal waste of state and federal resources to detain people for having a little pot on them as if they shot someone, sadly sometimes even worse.

 

[LaceyUnderall]

Ditto that freedom.

Here's an interesting quote from the article:

"The county would get the revenue, which would have generated $35,000 on 177 violations last year."

Instead, how much did the citizens of the state of Illinois pay out to keep those 177 violators in the system? Probably four times that.

There is hope for this country... it is just little pieces here and there.

 

[Elendil]

It's about time. IT's a colossal waste of state and federal resources to detain people for having a little pot on them as if they shot someone, sadly sometimes even worse.

Ditto that freedom.

Here's an interesting quote from the article:

"The county would get the revenue, which would have generated $35,000 on 177 violations last year."

Instead, how much did the citizens of the state of Illinois pay out to keep those 177 violators in the system? Probably four times that.

There is hope for this country... it is just little pieces here and there.

I'm sorry but I have to disagree. What happens when one of these idiots, high on marijuana, gets behind the wheel and kills innocent people? Being high on marijuana does effect your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, and now the government just gave it the big thumbs up............It's a red letter day, to be sure..............

 

[LaceyUnderall]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree. What happens when one of these idiots, high on marijuana, gets behind the wheel and kills innocent people? Being high on marijuana does effect your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, and now the government just gave it the big thumbs up............It's a red letter day, to be sure..............

There is no doubt that stupid people do stupid things... but is it really necessary to occupy space in a jail by a pot smoker then a child aggressor?

And if someone did get behind the wheel of a car, high, and kills innocent people that should most definitely be frowned upon like drinking and driving and carry the exact same punishment.

But... then again, according to Myth Busters, you are 68% more likely to get into an accident while on the cell phone then you are while over the legal limit for alcohol...

 

[Elendil]

There is no doubt that stupid people do stupid things... but is it really necessary to occupy space in a jail by a pot smoker then a child aggressor?

And if someone did get behind the wheel of a car, high, and kills innocent people that should most definitely be frowned upon like drinking and driving and carry the exact same punishment.

But... then again, according to Myth Busters, you are 68% more likely to get into an accident while on the cell phone then you are while over the legal limit for alcohol...

I agree with you on the cell phone thing..........people just don't pay attention when on the phone............. I think it will be a shame when someone under the influence of MJ does who should have been in jail and instead got a fine and sent on the way kills someone. Boy will you see this repealed quick.

I do question your comment about pot smoker vs child aggressor........is there evidence to show we are letting child abusers walk the street because the jail space was occupied by a pot smoker?

 

[LaceyUnderall]

I do question your comment about pot smoker vs child aggressor........is there evidence to show we are letting child abusers walk the street because the jail space was occupied by a pot smoker?

I apologize. I used child aggressor as an example and should have noted this was to be an example... However, to back up the general statement that pot offenders are clogging the system, a search of google will bring back some interesting news articles from the past several years noting this type of system wide issue many states and cities in particular are facing.

 

[harmony gardens]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree. What happens when one of these idiots, high on marijuana, gets behind the wheel and kills innocent people? Being high on marijuana does effect your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, and now the government just gave it the big thumbs up............It's a red letter day, to be sure..............

They can be charged with negligent homicide by wreckless use of a motor vehicle.

 

[Circuit]

I think it will be a shame when someone under the influence of MJ does who should have been in jail and instead got a fine and sent on the way kills someone. Boy will you see this repealed quick.

Driving UNDER THE INFLUENCE is entirely different, and will no doubt remain illegal. Have you ever brought alcohol home in your car? How many drunk drivers kill people every day? While they will arrest someone under the influence, traveling with alcohol - an endlessly MORE harmful drug than mj - is perfectly legal.

Bottom line is, it's ridiculous to criminalize someone for attempting to alter their state of mind. That's what people do. We ALL do, in many different ways - it's human nature.

..and, if you're afraid of potheads, you've seen "...... Madness" too many times. I'd much rather deal with a pothead than a drunk. I don't want people driving around high out of their mind, but I would argue that being high vs being drunk is a staggering difference. If you don't see that difference, you don't have a frame of reference for argument.

 

[RacoonSpirit]

Just a quick comment on a hot topic...

Imagine how much revenue Big Brother could generate by controlling and taxing in the same manner as alcohol, let alone the dollars saved from NOT housing folks for possession/consumption.

Look at what is happening with PVs and the FDA - it is about money and revenue - Government is soooo hypocritical!

 

[LaceyUnderall]

..and, if you're afraid of potheads, you've seen "...... Madness" too many times. I'd much rather deal with a pothead than a drunk. I don't want people driving around high out of their mind, but I would argue that being high vs being drunk is a staggering difference. If you don't see that difference, you don't have a frame of reference for argument.

and some people are far better pot smokers than drunks and vice versa.

the option should be open so that people can make the responsible choice for themselves because as you note, people are going to do what they are going to do.

 

[freedomendured]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree. What happens when one of these idiots, high on marijuana, gets behind the wheel and kills innocent people? Being high on marijuana does effect your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, and now the government just gave it the big thumbs up............It's a red letter day, to be sure..............

You're making a case for the prohibition of alcohol. The marijuana one isn't going so well, and I think we ALL know how well the alcohol ban went!

If that happens then it will be treated in the same fashion a drunk driver would be processed. In all honesty I don't believe it would make as much a difference. People go out to drink and then drive home like asshats. I don't see there being any "pot bars", so they'll just buy their pot and go home and smoke it like is already being done. In any event I don't believe there will be a significant increase in those kind of incidents.

 

[Elendil]

Driving UNDER THE INFLUENCE is entirely different, and will no doubt remain illegal. Have you ever brought alcohol home in your car? How many drunk drivers kill people every day? While they will arrest someone under the influence, traveling with alcohol - an endlessly MORE harmful drug than mj - is perfectly legal.

Bottom line is, it's ridiculous to criminalize someone for attempting to alter their state of mind. That's what people do. We ALL do, in many different ways - it's human nature.

..and, if you're afraid of potheads, you've seen "...... Madness" too many times. I'd much rather deal with a pothead than a drunk. I don't want people driving around high out of their mind, but I would argue that being high vs being drunk is a staggering difference. If you don't see that difference, you don't have a frame of reference for argument.

Where to begin..................

Not afraid of potheads. Never seen "...... Madness". I'm afraid of anyone who would choose to alter their mind with a substance of any kind and then get behind the wheel. I've spent 15 years working on an ambulance and scraped to many victims of people that were under the influence of alcohol, mj, and many other things off of the pavement to have any tolerance and sympathy for those that do this. To simply say if you do it then you will be punished is not enough. We should be doing everything possible to prevent it to begin with. And to those breaking the law, a fine will do nothing discourage their behavior.

No I don't transport alcohol in my vehicle, ever. I don't drink, ever.

It's amazing to me that people will do anything to try and justify their behavior as long as it is for their own enjoyment and to hell with infringing on anyone else's right to live their life without the added risks that these behaviors impose on others.........

And as far as prohibition goes. Heck yea, I'd vote for it

 

[BARENETTED]

I only drink (moderately) occasionally and when I do, I do not drive.

I think big brother should legalize it, collect the taxes on it and stop putting people in jail for it. However, I think that if you drive while high, you should be treated just as a drunk driver would.

Just my .02!

PS - I think they should also put you in jail if you are diving while talking on the phone or texting! An automobile is a lethal weapon and if you cannot be responsible while operating - then go to jail. Human life is too precious.

 

[gashin]

I drive BETTER when I'm high.... I follow the speed limit and focus more just because I'm not really anxious to drive fast or get angry at drivers. I was pretty good at drunk driving too when I drank a lot - I used to drive by tons of cops and never got tailed once... you just have to really focus on it... One time I did get pulled over for expired tags while drunk but I pulled over right away and answered all the questions quickly so they let me go (I reeked of alcohol when I got home according to my dad). I'm still against it though because I know many people that got into accidents (my friend ran into a telephone pole on New Years Eve.... and got away even though he fell asleep for like 5 mins....). I think it really depends on how well you can handle your alcohol because if you're really wasted there's no way you can drive straight no matter how much you drive... and I do think that Cops will let you go if you're driving straight even if they do suspect you're drunk/high...

With regards to Marijuana - in Socal they're extremely lenient. My friends have been stopped numerous times for weed and blazing in their cars but the worst that has ever happened was the cops just tossed their weed on the street... no tickets or arrests....

 

[Harry Crazington]

Hemp is the most useful plant on the planet, and has been for about 10,000 years of recorded history. It could save the world, it used to be illegal for farmers to NOT grow it because it was used for so many different things...then along came Hurst, DuPont and Rockefeller who tricked congress into outlawing it so they could make multi-billions of dollars selling us their crap.

Legalize NOW !!!