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The bill, which
passed 37-19 vote, makes possession of up to 15 grams of
marijuana a civil law violation punishable by a $125 fine.
Individuals will not face jail time.
The measure was approved by the Illinois House of
Representatives in April. A spokeswoman for Governor Bruce
Rauner, a Republican, did not say whether he would sign it.
"The governor will carefully consider any legislation that
crosses his desk," said spokeswoman Catherine Kelly.
Under current Illinois law, possession of up to 2.5 grams of
marijuana is punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a fine of up
to $1,500.
More than 100 other Illinois towns and cities, including
Chicago, have already adopted measures that reduce penalties for
simple marijuana possession, said Chris Lindsey, legislative
analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington,
D.C.-based policy group.
"It's time to stop destroying people's lives over possession of
a substance that is undeniably less harmful than alcohol," said
Lindsey.
Lindsey cited an American Civil Liberties Union report that
African Americans in Illinois are 7.6 times more likely to be
cited or arrested for marijuana possession than whites, despite
using marijuana at a similar rate.
The proposal comes as a growing number of U.S. states have
relaxed marijuana laws. Medical marijuana is legal in 23 states,
including Illinois; 15 states have decriminalized possession of
small amounts; and four states and Washington, D.C. have
approved the drug for recreational use, Lindsey said.
Public opinion has also shifted toward legalizing marijuana in
recent years, with nearly half of Americans supporting full
legalization, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.
(Reporting by Mary Wisniewski)
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