Carrying small amounts of marijuana would result in a fine instead of an arrest under a measure approved Thursday by the Illinois Senate.
Low-level cannabis possession would go from a crime with fines up to $2,500 and up to a year in a jail to penalties likened to a traffic ticket: no court time and a fine of up to $125 for those caught with 15 grams or less, which is the equivalent of about 25 cigarette-sized joints.
The Senate voted 37-19 to approve the legislation after it cleared the House last month. But it’s not going to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk just yet — sponsors say they’ll hold onto it until additional cleanup language is approved.
The bill won approval weeks after Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez announced her office would stop prosecuting low-level marijuana possession cases for people with fewer than three arrests or citations. It also follows a measure enacted by Chicago in 2012 that allowed police to issue tickets of $250 to $500 for someone caught with 15 grams or less of marijuana.