North Cook News

The Evanston City Council recently discussed updates to the City's criminal code pertaining to the possession and use of cannabis.

During a Nov. 28 City Council meeting, Councilmember Devon Reid proposed to remove the mere possession of cannabis from the list of offenses in the City code. President Joe Biden recently pardoned all those convicted of this offense, and the proposal was meant to mirror recent national standards. Councilmember Revelle was against portions of the proposed amendment. There are multiple portions of the proposed removal, one part regarding possession and use on private property and another that deals with the same charge in a public space.

During the meeting, Evanston Police Chief Schenita Stewart introduced Sgt. Scott Sophier of the Department's Traffic unit. He shared that the Department is not against the addition of language regarding public right-of-way and open containers, but they do oppose the removal of possession of open containers in vehicles as they feel that would be in violation of current state statutes.

"Essentially what we’re saying is that the consumption or possession of open alcoholic beverage containers or cannabis products on those public places should remain prohibited as C1 states," Sophier said in the meeting. 

After much discussion between council members, the police department and the Village attorney, the matter was tabled until the Dec. 12 Council meeting. The purpose was to give the police department more time to review the specifics and confer with the legal department on how best to amend the City code clearly and accurately.