cannabisnews.com: U.S. Neither For Nor Against Plan To Fine for Pot U.S. Neither For Nor Against Plan To Fine for Pot Posted by CN Staff on September 23, 2004 at 09:25:49 PT By Frank Main, Crime Reporter Source: Chicago Sun-Times The nation's drug czar said Wednesday that a plan being considered by Mayor Daley to fine -- rather than arrest -- people possessing small amounts of marijuana could help control the use of a drug he sees as being more potent than many people realize.It's clear from the high dismissal rate of marijuana-possession cases in Chicago that authorities are not treating pot as seriously as they should, said John Walters, the White House's top drug-fighting official. His remarks came in an interview a day after Daley embraced a Chicago Police sergeant's plan to impose fines on pot smokers ranging from $250 for up to 10 grams to $1,000 for 20 to 30 grams.Sgt. Thomas Donegan, fed up with seeing pot arrests evaporate in court, presented top police brass with a report last week showing that 6,954 cases -- 94 percent of those involving less than 2.5 grams of pot -- were dismissed in 2003.Donegan suggested that fines for possession of less than 30 grams of pot -- a misdemeanor -- could have raised $5 million last year.A hearing would still be held for people fined for having pot, but the standard of proof would be lower than in a misdemeanor case, and the ticket would not go on their criminal record, making it likely that they would pay instead of fighting it, Donegan said. Police could still make arrests on a state misdemeanor drug charge, if, for example, the suspect were a repeat drug offender.Walters did not object to the concept of imposing fines on people caught with small amounts of pot. But he would not express outright support for the idea, either.Instead, he said fines could be a "tool" for reducing pot consumption, along with opening up more drug courts and requiring pot smokers to attend classes to learn about the dangers of the drug.Walters, however, did not echo fears by some in law enforcement that imposing fines for pot would show that the city is not serious about pot consumption."Some people will read that fines downgrade our concern about the issue," he said. "I don't read that."He stressed that the goal of enforcing laws on marijuana possession should not be locking up the offenders, but educating them that pot has become more potent in the last 10 years and that more users are winding up in hospitals.Walters said 4,588 people visited emergency rooms in the Chicago area in 2002 because of pot-related problems and 4,800 people were admitted to substance-abuse programs in 2001 for marijuana treatment.Scientific improvements in the cultivation of marijuana have increased the content of the active ingredient -- THC -- from about 1 percent to 2 percent of the total weight to an average of 9 percent, Walters said."I certainly agree with the frustration reflected in the comments by the mayor and law enforcement in Chicago," Walters said."There is an unwillingness now in most jurisdictions to take seriously enough the problem of marijuana trafficking and consumption."Complete Title: U.S. Neither For Nor Against Plan To Fine for Pot Possession Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)Author: Fran Spielman, City Hall Reporter Published: September 23, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Sun-Times Co.Contact: letters suntimes.comWebsite: http://www.suntimes.com/Related Articles:Policing The Pot Patrol http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19536.shtmlDaley: Just Ticket Marijuana Users http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19525.shtmlSome Marijuana Arrests May Mean Just a Tickethttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19521.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #18 posted by John Tyler on September 26, 2004 at 07:45:32 PT Inconsistent Why does the Drug Czar think it is OK for Chicago to impose fines on cannabis user when they are caught, but has a complete "fit" when the gov. of Canada proposed to do the exact same thing? Talk about sending "mixed signals". What's going on in his mind? [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Overwhelmsam on September 24, 2004 at 05:45:03 PT Ohhhhhh, Marijuana is so dangerous... Yep, legalizing marijuana could bring down the alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical industries over night. Scary, eh? [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on September 23, 2004 at 22:01:21 PT dr slider Oh my that is the truth! [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by dr slider on September 23, 2004 at 21:49:59 PT: blue state Illinois is a blue state so decrims OK ,right Johnny? Wouldn't want to piss off someone you are counting on. After all its not like they're calling it medicine. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by ron on September 23, 2004 at 19:01:11 PT Love your plan, Alvin Cool What an inexpensive, simple method for Nader and the others to do an end run around the Demreps trivialization of the issues. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by global_warming on September 23, 2004 at 16:33:45 PT It's Clear "It's clear from the high dismissal rate of marijuana-possession cases in Chicago that authorities are not treating pot as seriously as they should, said John Walters, the White House's top drug-fighting official."Hmmm...now who are the "authorities" in this article...?With the best of intentions, Mr. John Walters seems to be rather subdued, this is not like his usual self, of course his blindnesss that might have led him to this isolation, may not entirely be based on his desire for mankind to be saved from the "devils weed", given the high arches of greed that the drug war has built, and all those poor working and honest folks that follow the laws in a country that are humbly obeying the "rule of law"There are many places in Hell, and some right here in River City, but for those poor folks that only follow orders and unjust laws, there are even better places crafted by demons from eternity.Fines, penalties, greed and regulations are the true trademarks of the world we live in today, a product of our modernism, a product of our sleepy and encouraged ways that have lulled most of us into some kind of commercial induced sleep.The blood of many good people remains buried in the mulch of history, that same history that so quickly is forgotten, that history that speaks of mankinds evolution towards freedom, blood that has been spilled to reveal and destroy despotism, tyranny, greed, and all of the power sucking hosts that would seek to succor blood for their own private interests.This war on drugs is not about "pot" this war on drugs is about a war on people, this war on drugs is like the war on terrorists, this war is on people, people who can easily disguise themselves, remain hidden, people who will go underground, like the ancient Christins, who had to hide, to worship God.The strangeness of multicultreism may be less foreboding than the internal war that we herald, for we will always have enemies, and war may not always solve our best interests, maybe the war mongers and profiteers, those same carpetbaggers, that sold the snake oils and opium wars may now hide behind the children, but they mock justice, they mock the law, they take every advantage to soothe their hungry and greedy flesh.The path to God is guided by the illuminated steps of the martyrs, and each step into the unknown only hastens mankind towards an oblivion that will reside in some of those darker places in this universe.I believe in God, and I believe that God has not fashioned this entire universe so that the likes of John Walters and his kind shall subvert and control life, there have been other people named John, the one who Jusus held to his breast, beloved and trusted John, and the many unnamed men and women who died to advance our world to a better way with more freedom, freedom from the greedy oppresors, freedom from those that have been blinded by man made laws that conceal the greed of the oppressors.Long live freedom, long live the warriors who fight this oppresion, and may the memory of these warriors forever be remembered, for the steps into eternity can be followed blindly or with a conviction that the unknown plan of God, was not in vain, but that God has given freely to all, "Life", life that begets reflection on the infinite waters that have spawned this miracle in the real world. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on September 23, 2004 at 16:01:53 PT AlvinCool Give it a try and when it's set up let us know. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by AlvinCool on September 23, 2004 at 15:55:11 PT I got a plan I want to see the alternate candidates in the debates and I think I've figured out how. I sent this to the LP party. I'm going to approach MPP and Normal. But before I do that does this seem rational?There are probably three or four other major candidates, including Libertarians. If each of those candidates were in a guaranteed seclusion then they would be able to watch President Bush or Sen. Kerry or speak depending on the rotation pattern. Each candidate is timed just like the debate and in the same time frames. The total time would be longer because of the candidate being inserted. Each would be recorded independently in different studios at the same time.Afterward they can see all candidates on the Internet answering the questions to the debates real time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by JustGetnBy on September 23, 2004 at 15:32:30 PT Drug Thug I really thought the term (Drug Thug ) fit John Walters and his ilk like a silk slipper. I hope others agree and use the term........ [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on September 23, 2004 at 13:19:26 PT dongenero That sounds like the best suggestion yet!PS: I uploaded a pdf file for Dr. Russo but I'm not sure if I should post it or not so I'll wait but it's very interesting. I'm sure it will be available soon. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by dongenero on September 23, 2004 at 13:10:34 PT okay Chicago The Drug Czar doesn't care one way or the other so......let's go for Legalization!!!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by billos on September 23, 2004 at 12:18:57 PT Siege................ History DOES repeat itself! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by siege on September 23, 2004 at 12:12:48 PT prohibition Chicago has opportunity to do it again with prohibition the first was ALCOHOL now MARIJUANA is that funny or not. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by JustGetnBy on September 23, 2004 at 11:04:45 PT Liar Liar !! These statistic Walters (the drug thug ) spews about increased potency cannabis (NOT MARIJUANA )being more dangerous than 10 years ago, emergency room statistics, and drug rehab admissions are absolute BS. Why doesn't somebody call him on these rigged statistics? They are blatently false, and yet he is allowed to spew them out at every opportunity with impunity. It just ain't right..... [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by b4daylight on September 23, 2004 at 10:05:30 PT A shift A shift in the sails of prohibition. No it just looks really pathetic when you cannot win a court case when the defendant does not show up. I think the judges are just fed up with the waste which the drug war brings. So all this after he scolds Canada interesting. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by firedog on September 23, 2004 at 09:38:22 PT Hmm... "Some people will read that fines downgrade our concern about the issue," [John Walters] said. "I don't read that."Funny, that's not what he's been saying about Canada's "decriminalization" proposal... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by BigDawg on September 23, 2004 at 09:36:27 PT Money talks Its amazing how our Drug Czar can claim cannabis is worse than crack last week... then claim that a good way to control it is by imposing thousand dollar fines for an ounce.Money talks... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment