Pubdate: Tue, 10 Jul 2012
Source: Galesburg Register-Mail (IL)
Copyright: 2012 Galesburg Register-Mail
Contact: http://www.register-mail.com/news/letters/index.html
Website: http://www.galesburg.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3864
Author: Joe Ward

GALESBURG OFFICIALS TO REVISIT MARIJUANA ORDINANCE

First Reading at July 16 Meeting

GALESBURG - After initial discussion over a city ordinance that would
allow police to ticket individuals found with small amounts of
marijuana stalled in March, the Galesburg City Council is poised to
pick up the topic once again for a first reading on July 16.

A proposal spearheaded by Ward 7 Alderman Jeremy Karlin to lessen the
penalty for possession of 2.5 grams or less of marijuana was tabled by
Mayor Sal Garza in March, when he removed the item from the council's
agenda so further dialogue with the community could be had.

Garza commissioned a working group to discuss the issue and provide
insight to the City Council over the affects of such a law. Included
in the working group was the county's state's attorney's office,
Galesburg Police Chief David Christensen, city legal counsel John
Hanlon, City Manager Todd Thompson, Knox County Sheriff David Clague,
Garza and Karlin.

Garza said in an email that input received by the group was helpful in
forming opinions on the issue.

"The Drug Abuse Prevention Coalition of Knox County and the
Probationary Officers were especially forthcoming in enlightening city
officials about the potential non-valued outcomes of such a ordinance
from their professional work perspective with youth and offenders,"
Garza said.

Karlin said he spoke with five aldermen who wanted the council to once
again discuss the ordinance. Karlin said he then approached Garza and
informed him that some council members requested the issue be revisited.

The ordinance would allow police to issue a $500 ticket to any persons
found in possession of 2.5 grams or less of marijuana, or also in
possession of marijuana paraphernalia such as pipes. The police
department's captain of field operations said police still could
arrest any individual caught with marijuana.

Those initially concerned over the proposed ordinance said the law
would work to legitimize marijuana. Saying that this in no way amounts
to legalization, Karlin said such a law would allow the city and
police to "prioritize legal resources" and keep ticket money in City
Hall rather than send it to Springfield.

With Chicago having recently approved a similiar ordinance, Karlin
said he hopes local attitudes on the issue might change.

"This is not us going out on a limb. This is us following a statewide
trend," Karlin said. "We shouldn't be afraid to have this
discussion."

Karlin noted that Abingdon has ticketed small amounts of marijuana for
years, and that their law was the model for the local ordinance.
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