Marijuana Reform: Where Your Elected Officials Stand

Yesterday, we explained some of the statistics behind 19 months worth of marijuana possession arrests in Oak Park and River Forest, rehashed some of the important reporting taking place elsewhere in the Chicago area and invited you to sound off in the comments.

Today, you’ll hear from local elected and appointed officials, as well as some other community leaders and advocates. We posed the same question to all of them — Where do you stand on marijuana decriminalization? Here's what they had to say:

Peter Silvestri, Cook County Commissioner, Ninth District

We’re not talking about cocaine, we’re not talking about heroin. There needs to be an honest debate about the real effect of marijuana use…and whether or not the war on drugs has been effective. I have to venture that it has not been.

We’re spending millions putting people through the system and arrests, incarceration, court time, prison…it adds up. It’s just a question of whether the penalty is to severe for the act committed.

Kristine Raino-Ogden, Member, IMPACT, a group of local parents advocating against drug use

Decriminalization is the buzzword, but it’s semantics. We don’t call it decriminalizing…we don’t want people to think it’s not a crime per se. What would really change is the consequence of getting caught...A fine wouldn’t prevent [juvenile offenders] from getting into college or getting a job.

David Pope, Village President, Oak Park

It’s not an issue that’s been on our radar screen. I have not looked at any depth at the issue in light of…Rep. Ford’s town hall and [his proposed] legislation. At this point, I think it’s important to enforce the laws that are on the books.

Rick Tanksley, Police Chief, Oak Park

I'm not so much interested in generating revenue. But for [juveniles getting arrested for small amounts of pot possession] it could be their first time being arrested, and that can give you a record, a juvenile record and those things can follow you around in life. Just one mistake. We're talking about giving individuals a second chance.

And [reformed laws] could allow my officers to spend more time on the street.

Dan Linn, Illinois NORML

I think legalization is long overdue. I think it would be the best way to add money to [municipal, state and federal] budgets, restore liberties of the American people and pull the financial rugs out from cartels south of the border.

John Rigas, Village President, River Forest

I can’t really give you a stance because I don’t have enough information, but I can tell you that this hasn't blown up on our radar. I'm kind of ambivalent. I'd like to know what the community wants and what the pros and cons are from the police department and schools.

I don't think the stats are high for us, so I don't think [offenders arrested in River Forest] are clogging up the courts. It's an issue in society and culturally, but it's not really something that we have a big issue with here.

Gregory Weiss, Police Chief, River Forest

I am not against allowing local municipalities to adjudicate small amounts of marijuana. It appears the trend is headed that way in several states already with medical marijuana and decriminalization, and it makes sense from a dollars and cents standpoint. By allowing the officer to cite as a petty offense on a local level, it saves time in the courts and the crime labs.

It also allows alternatives for the officer’s who have to decide on the street whether they should be charging someone in possession of a small amount with misdemeanor charges which requires arresting and processing the violator or seizing and destroying the small amount of cannabis without charges. The officer would have the third choice to cite the violator and release them on the spot.

I would be against anyone under 18 years old using decriminalization as an excuse for using marijuana just as I am against tobacco and alcohol use at that age. Currently it is against the law to have open liquor in your vehicle while it is being operated, even if you aren’t intoxicated, the law should be similar for accessible marijuana, even if it is decriminalized. I am very much against driving under the influence of marijuana.

Ultimately as a police chief, I defer to the legislative branch of the government.

Editor's note: First District Cook County Commissioner Earlean Collins did not return multiple attempts seeking comment for this story. If you'd like to let us know what YOU think, please feel free to drop a line in the comments.