# Should Marijuana be decriminalized? Chicago Mayor thinks so..... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 4, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485 "2004-10-04T17:46:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485/1 "2004-10-04T17:46:09Z")
[This](http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/News/2004/10/04/655069.html) may be a step closer to the decriminalization of Marijuana, but it is not the endall for pot smokers across the country just yet… Chi-town mayor Daley said he is in favor of reducing the fines for small amounts of marijuana found on people. He based some of his assertion on the fact that there is an aweful lot of money spent prosecuting misdomeanor pot offenses, when that money could be better spent elsewhere. To that end I agree. However, it doesn’t put the US any closer to actual decriminalization of the psychotropic weed. I doubt we are any closer to Amsterdam style “_coffee_” houses, but we may be paving the road for weed to be at least decriminalized… Any thoughts? Any reactions? Personally, I would have no problem is all 50 states decriminalized marijuana. I have my reasons, but the statistics speak for themselves. Though I have no cite for car accidents, I would think the ratio of alcohol related auto-fatalities far exceeds marijuana related car fatalities. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485/2 "2004-10-04T17:56:59Z")
I am pro-legalization. It just doesn’t make sense to me that marijuana is illegal and we spend so much money on jailing the “criminals” who cultivate, sell or buy it. It’s a travesty. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485/3 "2004-10-04T18:10:26Z")
Eh, why not? I think it’ll be good for Chicago, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485/4 "2004-10-04T18:18:22Z")
If you gave me a choice of whether I’d want to ride in a car with someone who had too much to drink, or someone who’d smoked too much marijuana, I know who I’d choose. Primarily because the guy who was too high would never break 25mph. And you know you’re never too far from a Taco Bell. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485/5 "2004-10-04T18:28:17Z")
I don’t think the US will ever reach the point where we’ll have the notorious “coffeehouses” (which I understand are closing to non-residents as of January 1st. A big hit to drug tourism for fair Amsterdam!) Personally I applaud any measure taken to decriminalize personal use of marijuana in the United States. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485/6 "2004-10-05T00:25:05Z")
How is fining someone for doing something decriminalizing it? FWIW, that guy apparently suggested this years ago and it just now got to his attention. I’m surprised there aren’t more jokes about Daley trying to make Chicago “greener.” For those who don’t know, Daley wans Chicago to be the most environmentally responsible city in the country. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485/7 "2004-10-05T00:28:56Z")
The Amsterdam skunk houses are closing to non-residents? Why? Are they under international pressure or something? I haven’t heard about this. Can anyone elaborate? _quietly browses Orbitz for cheap flights to Amsterdam_ ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485/8 "2004-10-05T01:22:52Z")
Mayor Daley is nothing if not a pragmatist. So many minor marijuana possession cases are thrown out of court, and so many resources are expended to prosecute them, that he doesn’t see the point - he thinks it would do the city more good to have the cash. I tend to concur. ---
**Author:** ![beltbuckle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@beltbuckle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beltbuckle)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485/9 "2004-10-05T01:35:38Z")
In a semi-related manner, Alaskans will be voting on marijuana when they hit the ballot box in November. They pro-marijuana folks there are wanting marijuana to be treated somewhat like alcohol, where the government regulates it, and there would be a legal age of 21. [Link to an article.](http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/092404/sta_potprop.shtml) I for one, would like marijuana to be legalized just like alcohol and tobacco are today. It does create a slippery slope, though, as to do with all the people in prisons arrested for selling or using marijuana. I would rather have the non-violent marijuana users out in the public than pay more taxes to support them being locked up. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485/10 "2004-10-05T01:37:20Z")
I am pro-legalization. \<----- shortest answer I’ve ever written. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485/11 "2004-10-05T02:24:02Z")
> [@Chairman Pow](#): > > How is fining someone for doing something decriminalizing it? In this context, decriminalization usually refers to the writing of a citation or ticket fining a violation of a city ordinance. This contrasts with arrest, fingerprinting, booking, and prosecution of a criminal user. Citation for an ordinance is like jaywalking…a ticket. Criminalization is like pushing meth…arrestable-felony or misdemenor. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485/12 "2004-10-05T02:46:10Z")
> [@Ghanima](#): > > I don’t think the US will ever reach the point where we’ll have the notorious “coffeehouses” (which I understand are closing to non-residents as of January 1st. A big hit to drug tourism for fair Amsterdam!) [Not quite,](http://www.hiptravelguide.com/amsterdam/php/article-162.html) although still not good. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485/13 "2004-10-05T03:19:29Z")
I’m for decrim, along the alcohol model. Tax and regulate. ---
**Author:** ![Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-marijuana-be-decriminalized-chicago-mayor-thinks-so/267485/14 "2004-10-05T12:32:00Z")
**About the Dutch coffeeshop-policy** I am not 100% aware of the different policies in place at the moment, but I can assure you that coffeeshops will not dissapear in Amsterdam, nor will it be illegal to smoke in them. Doing this would bring down tourism in Amsterdam. They are putting some rules in place to limit the number of coffeeshops along the borders with Germany and Belgium. This has been requested by the German government. Also some coffeeshops now need you to register first as a customer. You will then get an ID-card with which you can buy cannabis-products in that coffeeshop. This is mostly the case in places with a lot of young people causing trouble in the neighbourhood. They then have a tool to control them, because they can cancel their membership so they can’t use the coffeeshop anymore. In Amsterdam most of the coffeeshops cater to the tourists. (Overpriced, lower quality cannabis-products). They are also (mostly) in non-domestic are, so won’t cause troubles in the neighbourhood. If they stop selling to tourists, they might as well close the shops. This will cost the Netherlands a substantial amount of tourism-income. I don’t see this happening.