Chicago OKs tickets for small amounts of marijuana

CHICAGO — The Chicago City Council has approved a measure that would allow police officers to ticket people found with small amounts of marijuana instead of arresting them.

Aldermen voted 43-3 in favor of the ordinance Wednesday. Under the ordinance, anyone in possession of 15 grams of marijuana — roughly the equivalent of 15 marijuana cigarettes — faces a fine between $250 and $500.

Both Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy support the ordinance.

Several aldermen say the new law will make more police available for street patrols instead of processing minor offense paperwork. But some members of the council expressed concern the ordinance would send young people the wrong message about drug use.

Alderman Danny Solis, who sponsored the measure, estimates $7 million a year in revenue.