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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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US IN: Lansing Cracking Down On Marijuana
ccguide Monday 21 Apr 2003 Pubdate: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 Source: Times, The (Munster IN) Copyright: 2003 The Munster Times Contact: Website: http://www.nwitimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/832 Author: Phil Rockrohr, Times Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) LANSING CRACKING DOWN ON MARIJUANA Village To Handle Cases Involving Possession Of Less Than 10 Grams LANSING -- People caught with less than 10 grams of marijuana in Lansing will now face a village hearing officer instead of going to Cook County Circuit Court in Markham. The Village Board approved an ordinance last week outlawing the act in Lansing, in addition to a state law regulating small amounts of the substance. Police Chief Dan McDevitt sought the local law to give police another enforcement tool. Markham judges view possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana, a Class C misdemeanor in county court, as a minor crime they would prefer not to adjudicate, McDevitt said. "The courts in Markham would rather not get bogged down with such minor offenses," he said. "This would give us another tool locally that we could send to local court." County judges did not actually request the ordinance, but McDevitt said they and prosecutors approve of the village's new ordinance. "I'm sure judges would find their time better spent on more serious matters," he said. "That's why we checked with the state's attorney's office, and they thought it was a good idea." Under the ordinance, Lansing Municipal Court may enact fines of $50 to $1,000 for each violation. Possession of cannabis is illegal unless authorized by the state Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, with approval of the Department of Law Enforcement, the ordinance states. Trustee Bob Ryan, chairman of the board's Ordinance Committee, called the proposal a "great initiative." "My understanding now is the Lansing Police Department is basically wasting their time because these cases are not moving through the courts," Ryan said. "This gives us something to use against small-time offenders," McDevitt said. Trustee Jack Hoekstra, chairman of the board's Public Safety and Welfare and Committee, said village officials have long wanted to move the possession cases into local court. "We've been discussing it for some time," Hoekstra said. "We're trying to get the village court ready for this." The supervising assistant state's attorney in Markham reviewed Lansing's proposal, McDevitt said. "He said a lot of villages have it," the chief said. "He saw no problem with it." Under the ordinance, violators will be charged with a local offense in lieu of the state law, McDevitt said. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager
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