Illinois decriminalizes cannabis possession

The possession of small quantities of cannabis in Illinois is now punishable only by fines after Governor Bruce Rauner signed a law to that effect on Friday. Illinois is the third-largest state in the U.S. to decriminalize minor cannabis offences.

The new law, which takes effect immediately, makes possession of less than 10 grams of cannabis a civil offense, punishable by a fine of up to 200$. The Republican governor's signature on the law was eagerly awaited, as it incorporated elements he had missed last year, when he vetoed decriminalization. At the time, Rautner said that penalties for minor cannabis offenses were too harsh and that «criminal prosecution for cannabis possession was also an unnecessary drain on public resources».

The new law also sets standards for driving under the influence of cannabis. Currently, any trace of cannabis is enough for a driver to be at fault. Supporters of legalization have long criticized this zero-tolerance approach, as cannabis can remain a drug of abuse. several weeks in the human body. The new threshold is set at 5 nanograms of THC in the blood, with consumption dating back no more than two hours.

Illinois joins 16 other states, including New York and California, that have decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis.

Police officials and sheriffs in the state have expressed reservations about the change in the law, and are working with the governor to implement it. One of them said he was concerned that more people would have access to cannabis with this change.

«You're giving individuals more opportunities to use drugs,» said Laimutis Nargelenas, current chief of police for the Springfield Park district. He says authorities are working on a device to raise the number of people driving while having smoked after this change in the law.

Supporters of the law, on the other hand, pay tribute to the governor, adding that the state should focus on treating people for more dangerous drugs.

More than 100 Illinois cities, including Chicago, were already applying de facto dock decriminalization. However, legislators were concerned about the different treatment of minorities. «We treat people really differently within our state, and we should get rid of that,» had explained Democratic Senator Heather Steans, also a supporter of the law.

Illinois' new cannabis law also calls for purging possession records every 6 months, unless local government objects. The goal is for people not to be burdened their entire lives with a criminal record for a minor offense that would make it difficult for them to get a home or a job.

The law rejected last year was less strict than this one. It decriminalized possession of 15 grams, with fines ranging from 55 to 125$, with a legal threshold of 15 nanograms for driving.