Under current Illinois law, a few grams of pot could put you in jail and leave you owing a major fine.
Democratic State Representative Kelly Cassidy has proposed a bill would make the possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana punishable by only a 125-dollar fine and no jail time. Chris Lindsey is a legislative analyst and represents the Marijuana Policy Project. He says the bill will save the state money and avoid prison overcrowding.
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Lindsey says getting caught with pot is not the end for that person.
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Many cities in Illinois have already passed local ordinances that give the officer a choice to only issue a citation for possession of small amounts of pot. The bill would also keep the violation from being a permanent part of someone's criminal record.