Chicago officials have announced they’ll no longer arrest people caught with weed while passing through the city’s airports.
The loosening of the law started with the federal Transportation Security Administration, which recently began deferring discoveries of marijuana to local police.
But since recreational use of marijuana becomes legal on Jan. 1, the Chicago P.D. wants nothing to do with low-level marijuana offenders.
“If it is not a violation of the statute or ordinance, we would offer them a proper disposal of the cannabis if they wish, or they could continue on with their travels,” says Commander William Mullane. “Within the guidelines of our current statute, starting Jan. 1 we can’t enforce anything. If they’re legal, they’re legal.”
Under the new law, Illinois residents 21 and older are allowed to possess up to 30 grams of weed, 500 mg of a THC product and five grams of cannabis concentrate.
Out-of-state visitors, however, are allowed to possess half of those amounts.
