The city of Du Quoin could begin assessing civil fines next week from those found in possession of drug paraphernalia or small amounts of marijuana.
The city council's action, which is expected at Monday's meeting, follows new state legislation that took effect last month decriminalizing possession of small amounts of the drug. At the council's meeting earlier this month, Mayor Guy Alongi said the city's home rule status allows it to set its own civil fine structure under the newly enacted law.
The city's proposed ordinance, which currently is on public display at Du Quoin City Hall, allows for a civil fine of between $400 and $750 for a person found in possession of 10 grams or less of any substance containing cannabis.Those caught with the drug also would be required to pay a $125 laboratory analysis fee to the Perry County circuit clerk.
Any person found with paraphernalia "for the purpose of unlawfully ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing cannabis or a controlled substance" would be subject to a fine of between $250 and $750.
A fine structure also is in place for anyone found selling drug paraphernalia within the city limits, and liquor establishments would face immediate suspension or forfeiture of their liquor licenses for violating the prohibition on paraphernalia sales. The city already had a previous paraphernalia-related ordinance in place.
Police Chief Jamie Ellermeyer said that while the ordinances will allow the city to keep fines for possession in-house, he worries about the continuing impact of marijuana normalization within Illinois and the nation at large.
Ellermeyer said his perspective on medical marijuana shifted after he spoke with doctors and other professionals who promoted the drug's benefits to patients with certain conditions, but he remains skeptical about decriminalization of the drug for recreational purposes.
He said the connection between marijuana use and later use of more dangerous substances remains a dangerous one. He said that even though everyone who smokes marijuana doesn't necessarily go on to use more dangerous drugs, users of substances such as heroin and cocaine usually got their start with marijuana.
"We know from working with [cannabis] that it's a gateway drug," Ellermeyer said. "If anyone thinks that it soesn't lead people in that direction, they're sadly mistaken."
The council's meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27 in the council chambers at city hall.
