Police: 47 pot plants found inside Woodstock home: The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office announced today that it has made four arrests and found nearly 150 marijuana plants valued at nearly $150,000 in a pair of recent busts at homes in the county. …

Chicago spending millions on marijuana arrests: On November 2, 25th Ward alderman Danny Solis responded by proposing a city ordinance that would let police issue tickets for the possession of ten grams of pot or less. Officers would still have …

74-year-old man caught with 77 pounds of marijuana: Illinois State Police seized 77 pounds of marijuana earlier this week during a traffic stop near Troy. Police pulled over 74-year-old Refugio Salazar for improper lane usage at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday while …

Chicago official’s plan would ticket offenders with small amounts of marijuana:

 Chicago aldermen are wading into the controversy over drug enforcement with a proposal to decriminalize possessing small amounts of marijuana in the city.

Supporters say the ordinance — which Alderman Daniel Solis plans to introduce at next week’s City Council meeting — will raise revenue for the city and free up police to chase more serious criminals.

If the plan passes, people caught in Chicago with 10 grams or less of marijuana would get a $200 ticket and up to 10 hours of community service, instead of facing a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $1,500 fine.

Chicago police get tied up making about 23,000 arrests each year for marijuana possession, said Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey, a Democrat, who appeared Thursday at a news conference with Solis and other aldermen.

“It is not time to act tough on crime, it is (time) to be smart on crime. We need our resources spent somewhere else,” Fritchey said.

Bernard lawyer: DUI law regarding marijuana unconstitutional: A judge will rule next week whether a woman accused in the 2009 traffic crash that killed a St. Charles couple can legally be charged with aggravated driving under the influence  because she …