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Unclear on the concept

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* Will County Patch

The Will County Sheriff’s Office continues to step up its efforts to eradicate marijuana from Will County. Last week, 25-year-old Princeton resident Zachary Sterling and 27-year-old Spring Valley resident William Wightman were taken away in handcuffs. Both have been charged at the Will County Courthouse with a Class 3 felony, unlawful possession of marijuana.

The complaint states that their arrests occurred during the early morning hours of Saturday, Jan. 26. The two out of town co-defendants “knowingly and unlawfully possessed more than 500 grams of any substance containing marijuana.” […]

Wightman’s bail was set at $40,000. Sterling’s bail was set at $50,000. Both men posted the necessary 10 percent to bond out of jail several hours after their arrest. They did not stay overnight at the Will County Jail. Wightman’s mugshot is at the top of this article.

Anyway, if you figured the election of J.B. Pritzker as the new governor of Illinois would suddenly mean the end of the state’s criminal laws prohibiting marijuana use, that has yet to happen.

I can’t decide which is worse: The use of junk science and hysteria by opponents (including Sen. Dick Durbin) or the impatience and bizarre ignorance of some proponents.

Elections don’t decide issues in Illinois. The General Assembly does. That takes a bit of time.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 8, 19 @ 12:25 pm

Comments

  1. I would like to know how many ounces they actually had in their possession. 500 g is just over 1 pound. Did they have 1 pound? 20 pounds? I would also like to know how the bust came about. Was it a simple traffic stop? Or was this the fruits of some intensive investigation?

    Comment by Langhorne Friday, Feb 8, 19 @ 12:31 pm

  2. Last minute rush to make a few bucks on fines and penalties and maybe impound a car or two

    Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Feb 8, 19 @ 12:35 pm

  3. This reads like it was written by City Zen /s

    Comment by ike Friday, Feb 8, 19 @ 12:37 pm

  4. >500 grams would be an illegal amount in most if not all states that allow recreational possession (which is usually 1 oz or less).

    Comment by C Ball Friday, Feb 8, 19 @ 12:40 pm

  5. thanks Rich for being evenhanded in your critiques of proponents and opponents. C Ball is correct that this kind of possession (with intent to distribute) will remain illegal after recreational MJ is enacted.

    Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 8, 19 @ 12:45 pm

  6. –Anyway, if you figured the election of J.B. Pritzker as the new governor of Illinois would suddenly mean the end of the state’s criminal laws prohibiting marijuana use, that has yet to happen.–

    No one who paid attention in eighth grade thought that. Get some game. That’s not writing, it’s typing.

    Comment by wordslinger Friday, Feb 8, 19 @ 12:52 pm

  7. Serious question: how does the proposed 1 oz. possession limit jive with the quantity that 5 plants might yield (much more than 1 oz.)?

    Will growers of 5 plants need a permit, evidence of chain of custody, etc.? Combined production of even 5 plants per person can create considerable leakage into the black market (which 2.5 oz/ 2 weeks per customer allowed in the med market almost surely does now).

    Comment by vole Friday, Feb 8, 19 @ 1:17 pm

  8. Serious question: how does the proposed 1 oz. possession limit jive with the quantity that 5 plants might yield (much more than 1 oz.)? Will growers of 5 plants need a permit, evidence of chain of custody, etc.? Combined production of even 5 plants per person can create considerable leakage into the black market

    This is a very complicated case, man.
    You know: a lotta ins… lotta outs… lotta what-have-you’s.
    And, uh… lotta strands to keep in my head, man…
    Lotta strands in old Duder’s head.

    – MrJM

    Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Feb 8, 19 @ 1:56 pm

  9. MrJM abides.

    Comment by Skeptic Friday, Feb 8, 19 @ 2:18 pm

  10. There are 454 grams in a pound.

    The charge is that the men possessed 500-2,000 grams cannabis.

    So.. that means they had between a pound and 4.4 pounds of what will soon be referred to as untaxed cannabis.

    They will still be getting arrested in a few years Bevause the state wants to get its tax money.

    Just like the people coming from Missouri with a trunk load of untaxed cigarettes do now.

    Comment by Windrweezle Friday, Feb 8, 19 @ 3:46 pm

  11. ===They will still be getting arrested in a few years===

    Yep. That article was ridic on so many levels.

    Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Feb 8, 19 @ 3:47 pm

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