This isn't worthy social change.  Whereas before I had to go to jail and pay fines, now I still have to pay fines.  This doesn't mean that people are more in control of their choices or that the War on Drugs is leaving.  This means that the state is finding ways of seeming lenient, but still reaping the benefits of the war on drugs.  Am I wrong in saying that it's taken 40 years (since the 1970 substance control act was implemented) for Chi-Town's government to decrease punitive measures to just short of jail time?  How much longer must we wait for the state to leave us alone to smoke what we want?  And of course, non-whites and those less economically well off will still be harmed the most from insane taxes.  This isn't the state becoming a friendlier state. It's an abusive parent saying it will still hit you, it just won't lock you up in the closet (immediately, that is, until you can't pay your fines).