On Wednesday, the Chicago City Council is set to vote on a proposal that would decriminalize marijuana possession in the city. As a former Assistant State's Attorney of Cook County, I know that marijuana laws waste valuable police resources that could be spent fighting violent crime. Just this year, more than 228 people were killed by guns in Chicago - that's almost double the number of U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan in the same time period.

Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said that last year, the current marijuana laws "tied up more than 45,000 police hours," and that "The new ordinance nearly cuts that time in half, which equals an approximate $1 million in savings, while freeing up cops to address more serious crime."

The proposal would allow officers to issue a $250 ticket to someone suspected of carrying 10 grams or less of marijuana, rather than spending hours off the streets to haul someone to jail on a misdemeanor charge. It is supported by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

As a Chicago citizen, your City Council members need to hear from you that Chicago police need to be focused right now on reducing violent crime and not marijuana possession.

Please sign this petition to let them know you support this sensible proposal.