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 Ninety-three percent of misdemeanor marijuana possession
violations in 2013 resulted in arrest in the nation's third-largest
city, while 7 percent resulted in tickets, a study by Roosevelt
University's Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy found.
The study shows some of the difficulties that can come with
implementing a new drug policy, even as more states and cities
soften their approach to marijuana.
In Chicago, police may issue a citation for a fine of $250 to $500
for possession of small amounts of marijuana, 15 grams (0.5 ounce)
or less, instead of making an arrest. Seattle, Pittsburgh,
Philadelphia and other cities have similar policies.
"This report is letting voters in Chicago know that the system in
place that was criticized previously is still in place," said Allen
St. Pierre, executive director of NORML, a group lobbying to
legalize the drug.
 Supporters of the Chicago measure, which included Mayor Rahm Emanuel
and Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, argued that it would raise
revenue for the cash-strapped city, save money and free up police to
pursue more serious crimes.
A Chicago police spokesman said the department has made progress,
but acknowledged there was more work to do. Misdemeanor pot arrests
totaled 15,898 in 2013, down 21 percent from 20,088 in 2011 before
the decriminalization measure.
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"We will continue looking for ways to improve our implementation of
the existing cannabis ordinance, and possibly even improving the
ordinance itself, so our officers can focus on illegal guns and
reducing violent crime," McCarthy said.
Arrest is mandatory even for small amounts of marijuana if a person
is caught smoking, is near a park or a school, or fails to produce a
state ID, police said.
Seattle police spokesman Patrick Michaud said the force has made few
possession arrests since the state of Washington decriminalized
possession of an ounce or less in 2012, but numbers were not
available. Even before that, it was a low priority, he said.
Sixteen states have decriminalized marijuana possession and two
states have legalized retail sales, according to NORML.
(Editing by Eric Walsh)
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