Anita's Political Calculation

Here's how laws get changed:

• Getting caught with a small amount of marijuana would result in a fine instead of arrest under a measure the Illinois House approved Thursday.
  
  Low-level cannabis possession would go from a crime with fines of up to $2,500 and up to a year in jail to be more like a traffic ticket: no court time and a fine of up to $125. The measure would apply to people caught with 15 grams or less, the equivalent of about 25 cigarette-size joints.

The street corner dealer is thisclose to being a ticket rather than a CB number.

And why is Anita jumping in with both feet?

• Alvarez is not leading a charge here. In fact, she's late to the parade. That was the subtext of the curt statement issued by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle: "I am pleased to see that the state's attorney has finally recognized what many of us have been saying for years — that our failed drug policies are resulting in the unnecessary detention and incarceration of thousands of people, primarily young men of color, who are accused of non-violent low-level drug offenses each year."
  
  It's no secret that Preckwinkle wants her chief of staff, Kimberly Foxx, to run against Alvarez next year. Preckwinkle believes Alvarez has been too focused on prosecution rather than alternatives such as ... what Alvarez announced Monday.

There's that black-and-brown thing again. Maybe if black or brown people didn't smoke it on the corners or in their cars no one would care as much? It certainly wouldn't attract the attention it does if you're doing it in your basement or out in your yard or anywhere the police don't have a duty to be. That simple act alone would cut weed arrests by 50% overnight we bet. Carry ID and sign the ticket, you're looking at an even bigger reduction in physical arrests, and that's just an informal survey.

Not surprised to see Anita playing politics though. You can bet the reverends are ramping up for the next primary after the Servin verdict this week.