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Lollapalooza and drug arrests (and trespassing)

The world-renowned music festival Lollapalooza takes place over 4 days in Chicago’s Grant Park. More than 100,000 music fans attend each day of the event. This year’s festival takes place from 8/1 to 8/4 and features nearly 100 bands including daily headliners The Strokes, The Chainsmokers, Childish Gambino, Tame Impala, Twenty One Pilots, J Balvin, Ariana Grande, And Flume.

You can expect a large police presence whenever there is such a large crowd of music fans gathered for multiple days. In 2017, there were 27 arrests and 29 citations issued at the site of the show.  But that doesn’t include the many arrests logged by state police or cops in other towns and counties across Illinois and even out of state.

Police are absolutely known to stop out of state cars or vehicles with Lollapalooza or other stickers indicating they are traveling to the festival. They will pull you over and attempt to justify a search for drugs or other contraband.

[Read more…]

Arrested at North Coast Music Festival?

The annual North Coast Music Festival takes place over Labor Day weekend in Union Park, in Chicago, Il. This year’s festival takes place from 8/31 to 9/2 and features dozens of bands over 3 days including daily headliners Miguel, DJ Snake, and Jamiroquai.

You can expect a large police presence whenever there is such a large crowd of music fans gathered for multiple days. In years past, people get crazy, and police will be out making arrests and writing criminal and civil citations. Both Chicago police on scene and State police other local police will be looking for concert travelers with out of town plates or musical signage on their cars.

Police are absolutely known to stop out of state cars or vehicles with North Coast Music Festival or other band stickers indicating they are traveling to the show. They will pull you over and attempt to justify a search for drugs or other contraband.

[Read more…]

Nearly 99% of Illinois Marijuana Arrests are for Possession Only

In some Illinois cities, including Chicago, marijuana has been decriminalized by local statute. The police can give you a simple citation if you are found in possession of marijuana.

You would think this would result in fewer arrests for the crime of marijuana possession. But a new study from Roosevelt University indicates almost 99% of marijuana arrests in the state of Illinois are for possession only, not distribution, cultivation, or other more serious pot crimes. [Read more…]

Bill Bans Police Ticket Quotas in Illinois

Update: the bill passed, and was signed into law.

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When it comes to evaluating the effectiveness of a police officer, how many “bad guys” they caught is a popular measurement. But a bill making its way through the Illinois legislature would make tallying those counts more difficult, as it would ban ticket quotas and stop agencies from evaluating officers on the number of tickets they issue.

Ticket quotas are a reality in many police departments, even those that deny it. And the controversy surrounding such quotas are not new. [Read more…]

Illinois Lawmaker Says Marijuana Legalization ‘Inevitable’

Medical marijuana has only been legal in Illinois for a few months, but some believe recreational marijuana should be hot on its heels. According to CBS Chicago, one lawmaker says legalization is “inevitable” and nothing will likely stop it. For Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), legalization will have to come with a few conditions.

Like many lawmakers, Feigenholtz is conflicted on legalization. But, by watching Colorado’s marijuana system unfold and the revenue it’s brought in, she knows it’s bound to happen here. [Read more…]

Illinois Medical Marijuana Law Could Take a Year (or More) to Finalize

As of January 1, Illinois became the 20th state to legalize medical marijuana. But the fight for making this medicine available to the masses is far from over. Projections estimate at least a year before legislators are able to come to an agreement about the specifics of the new law, meaning potential patients will have to continue to wait. [Read more…]

Illinois Medical Marijuana Passes, Industrial Hemp Waits in the Wings

Update: The Bill passed a Senate Committee.

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Lawmakers in the Illinois State House passed legislation this week that will set up a four-year medical marijuana program should Governor Pat Quinn sign it as expected. This victory could pave the way for a longer-term medical marijuana system and even help an industrial hemp bill gain momentum. [Read more…]

Lawsuit Alleges Chicago Police Repeatedly Shoot Innocent Robbery Victim

A Chicago store owner is suing his city after having to undergo surgeries and long-term therapy for what started as a robbery and ended as a police shooting. Just over one year ago, Bassil Abdelal was robbed by armed gunmen at his store (B&B Beauty Supply) on the West Side of the city. He called the police, like any normal citizen would, but their response was not one he expected. [Read more…]

Illinois Lawmakers Make Case for Medical Marijuana

Illinois State Representative Lou Lang and Senator Bill Haine made their case for medical marijuana legislation in a column in the State Journal-Register of Springfield. In it they outline why the legislation is a responsible and progressive option that would give patients access to the medicine they need while laying important framework to minimize any effects on the still-illegal and not-yet-up-for-debate recreational marijuana.

According to the lawmakers’ op-ed, their legislation (House Bill 1) could make Illinois the 19th state to pass laws designed to help chronically ill people have access to helpful medical marijuana. They point out that 83% of Americans support such laws and that there is significant evidence that marijuana truly does help chronic pain and other medical issues.

marijuana leafIn an effort to squash critics, the lawmakers use their column to dispel any questions about the law’s nature—pointing out that it will not be a “hands-off” policy like those in some states where a lack of regulatory framework has created a bit of a free for all.

The law would be a 4-year pilot program. As we wrote a few weeks ago, it passed a House Committee and is now going before lawmakers.

Access to medical marijuana under the law would not be an easy process. In an effort to keep the pot only for those who truly need it, patients would have to go through several steps in order to qualify.

First, a recommendation would have to come from a doctor who had a true relationship with the patient (not someone who set up shop solely to dole out marijuana prescriptions). The doctor would have to say the patient has one of the specified medical conditions and that they would get benefit from medical marijuana.

Then, the patient’s medical history would be forwarded to the state Department of Public Health that would actually conduct background checks on the patient. Anyone with a felony on their record would be disqualified. If the information in the patient’s medical record is verified, only then will the patient be issued a medical marijuana ID card.

Everything from the registration process to how the marijuana is obtained would be tightly controlled. For those who are frustrated with such strict regulations, it’s important to note that without such regulations assuring lawmakers that the industry will be on the up-and-up, the bill wouldn’t likely be passed.

The four-year medical marijuana pilot program is a step in the right direction, albeit not the giant step some advocates would want. Until marijuana is completely legalized, however, these small steps should be encouraged.