Commentary

Pot Progress?

Mayor Richard Daley voiced support Tuesday for a police officer’s proposal to ticket people caught with small amounts of marijuana instead of prosecuting them in court. On the one hand, it seems like Daley is coming around to the conclusion that it’s silly to bust people for possessing pot (even if he’s not coming from a personal liberty point of view). On the other hand, the ticketing plan could be just another way (like parking tickets or beverage contracts) governments squeeze more money to fund their local leviathans: Officer Thomas Donegan, frustrated at dismissals of his minor drug arrests, recently sent a letter to Police Supt. Philip Cline suggesting the new approach and contending that guilty findings would be easier and fine revenues would be generated if offenders simply were issued citations. Here’s the Chicago Tribune story (reg required).