Cook County Prosecutor Anita Alvarez Continues to Prosecute Low Level Drug Possession Cases

by John D. Ioakimidis, Esq,

My client’s felony drug case was dismissed after a finding of no probable cause at the preliminary hearing at the Cook County Court Brach 50 (Grand & Central). My client is an armed security guard and a criminal conviction would have had serious consequences on his life, his FOID card and his Conceal and Carry License. He was pulled over for a traffic violation but was driving on a suspended driver’s license. He was arrested and the police found two zip lock baggies of marijuana and one pill of Ecstacy on him. 
The Cook County States Attorney dismissed the marijuana charges per the recent change in policy of not prosecuting  marijuana possession cases for under 30 grams in most cases. However, the police officer was present and the State proceeded to preliminary hearing on the Ecstasy pill (.03 grams). Wisely, the Judge did not see fit that the felony drug case proceed any further. In other words, the Cook County State”s Attorneys Office is continuing to prosecute low-level drug possession cases. 
Not prosecuting marijuana possession cases but prosecuting other drug possession cases is a policy that can be surely replaced by a better one. Wouldn’t be better to treat people who are arrested for drug possession in a non-criminal matter? For possession of marijuana, the Cook County State’s Attorney has answered that question in the affirmative. I believe justice will be better served if the States Attorney’s policy of not prosecuting marijuana cases be extended to all low-level drug possession cases. I’m sure there is a better way to treat people with addiction issues than to spend valuable and scarce resources trying to brand them as criminals.
For more information contact attorney John Ioakimidis at 312-593-1765 or at jioakimidis@thelegaldefenders.com.

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