Today we have some interesting procedural news for those interested in Illinois’ recent effort to decriminalize marijuana. The Supreme Court has announced rules to govern the new type of cases created by the law passed last month.

Under the new law, offenders in possession of up to 10 grams of cannabis or drug paraphernalia seized during the offense are now charged with a civil law violation. These offenses were previously charged as misdemeanors carrying a possible penalty of a year in jail and fines up to $2,500. A civil law violation will be immensely more preferable for future offenders, but the law left the Illinois court system without a means for dealing with news cases.

Supreme Court Rules 585, 586, 587, 588, 589 and 590 are meant to address that problem. Taking effect at the start of this month, these new rules outline procedures for court and allow people charged under the statute different avenues for dealing with their cases. For example, Rule 588 allows people to simply mail in their fines and resolve the case without making a court appearance. Rule 590, on the other hand, allows courts to obtain default judgments against offenders who don’t feel like paying their fines.

LauraLaw has been following the subject of marijuana decriminalization as well as the interplay and changes as it affects dui based on marijuana. For more information, check out some of our previous pieces here and here. These news rules will be helpful in resolving cases going forward and are very important to anyone interested in DUI law in Illinois.

For more information about all the other Supreme Court rules, check out the main webpage.

If you have any legal issues that you would like to discuss, feel free to call us or visit our webpage.