Lollapalooza kicks off today, and the three-day lakefront music festival is set to unfold just as Chicago's new pot ticket ordinance takes effect.
Starting Saturday, police will be able to issue $250 tickets for those caught with small amounts of marijuana. And Lollapalooza attracts plenty of fans who enjoy lighting up a joint as part of the concert experience.
But Chicago Police Department officials say the ticketing provision will not apply inside the festival, which takes place on fenced-in grounds at Grant Park. That's because the land is Chicago Park District property. An exception to the new rules means that police will continue to arrest those caught on parkland with less than 15 grams of cannabis, the equivalent of about 25 cigarette-sized joints.
Whether anyone will be arrested remains to be seen, however. Last year, police made zero marijuana-related arrests among the 270,000 people who passed through the Lollapalooza gates.
Police are mum about whether they'll be more strictly enforcing the city's marijuana law come Saturday. Department spokeswoman Melissa Stratton said there is no special order not to bust those at Lollapalooza.
"If an officer sees use of marijuana taking place they will make an arrest, just as they will with any other illegal (or) illicit activity," Stratton said
[ Chicago Tribune reporter]
No comments:
Post a Comment