(720 ILCS 550/1) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 701)
Sec. 1.
The General Assembly recognizes that (1) the current state of scientific
and medical knowledge concerning the effects of cannabis makes it necessary
to acknowledge the physical, psychological and sociological damage which is
incumbent upon its use; and (2) the use of cannabis occupies the unusual
position of being widely used and pervasive among the citizens of Illinois
despite its harmful effects; and (3) previous legislation enacted to
control or forbid the use of cannabis has often unnecessarily and
unrealistically drawn a large segment of our population within the criminal
justice system without succeeding in deterring the expansion of cannabis
use. It is, therefore, the intent of the General Assembly, in the interest
of the health and welfare of the citizens of Illinois, to establish a
reasonable penalty system which is responsive to the current state of
knowledge concerning cannabis and which directs the greatest efforts of law
enforcement agencies toward the commercial traffickers and large-scale
purveyors of cannabis. To this end, this Act provides wide latitude in the
sentencing discretion of the courts and establishes penalties in a sharply
rising progression based on the amount of substances containing cannabis
involved in each case.
(Source: P.A. 77-758.)
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