Politics & Government

Mayor: Reduced Pot Penalties Can Help Evanston's Youth

The mayor spoke recently in support of a plan to reduce marijuana penalties in the city.

Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl said Monday night that the city's current penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana are one hurdle for students trying to find jobs and stay out of further trouble.

Currently, some marijuana cases result in a criminal record, and Tisdahl said that record can prevent youth from getting hired. She referenced a panel of Evanston students whom she spoke with, who specifically asked her for help finding jobs. Reducing the penaties for marijuana possession is one way to make it easier for them to find work.

"We know that what we are doing now is not good for the young people in our community, we know that having records stops them from getting jobs," Tisdahl said at the Human Services Committee meeting. "We know that we are not stopping their marijuana use with our current laws."

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The committee approved a measure that would result in a ticket and fine for people possessing 10 grams or less of marijuana. The ticket would be handled in an administrative adjudication, rather than in court.

City and school officials stressed that support for reduced penalties is not an endorsement of drug use.

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Evanston Township High School Associate Principal Vernon Clark said that regardless of what happened in the committee meeting, the school will continue to send a strong message to students that drugs are bad and will not be tolerated.

"There will be consequences for anyone who is under the influence or possession of marijuana at Evanston Township High School," Clark said. "Drugs are illegal and we’re not going to have them in our school."

The item passed with full support and will go to the full city council later this month.


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