Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) discussed racial bias and cannabis during a joint hearing of House and Senate committees Monday.
During the almost five-hour joint hearing of the House and Senate Appropriations Public Safety Committee, Mental Health Committee and Health & Healthcare Disparities Committee, McConchie and other legislators discussed the legalization of marijuana by passing HB2353 and SB316.
McConchie addressed the first panel of witnesses about alleged arrest disparities and racial bias issues brought up since the possession of 10 grams or less was made a civil law violation and not a criminal charge in the last session of the General Assembly.
“Given this are you indicating that just routine possession of small amounts of marijuana are still resulting in arrests, and if so what are they being charged with since we have changed state law to make it a civil law violation and not a criminal law that actually requires expungement,” McConchie asked.
Cook County Board Deputy Chief of Staff Lanetta Haynes Turner said though that is the present law, it takes time for expungement to take place and waiting can negatively affect minority men who have been charged.
“We are still seeing individuals who are detained on misdemeanors for nonviolent drug offenses in our jails,” McConchie said of the drug that, if both bills are passed, would allow Illinois residents to carry up to 1 ounce of marijuana.
“I am just skeptical that when we are provided with testimony that we need to go farther to address a problem that already should be taken care of in regard to these arrests in these communities,” McConchie said.
Speaking about racial bias issues, a panel of three adolescent students opposed to the legalization of marijuana spoke to legislators, testimony that was welcomed by McConchie.
“I believe in using my voice to make a change in making our community better,” Devan Smith, an African-American junior at Stevenson High School and member of the youth prevention group Catalyst Club, said, adding she came to specifically talk about the social justice argument of the legalization of marijuana.
“The idea is that minority men are prosecuted at a higher rate than white men, especially when it comes to drug related crimes,” Smith said. “Many people today have made the point of the hot button issue of the involvement of people of color and marijuana possession; however, very few of those people were African-American. I am African-American, and I would like to stop the social injustices in this country more than anyone, however legalizing marijuana is not the way to do this.”
McConchie commended the teenager.
“Thank you very much for coming out and getting up there, not a lot of kids would do that and it is important for us to hear from you guys often on many issues so please come back,” McConchie said.
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