U.S. REP. MARK KIRK TO PUSH TOUGHER SENTENCES FOR MORE-POTENT MARIJUANA

North Shore Republican to Propose Legislation Setting Penalties of Up
to 25 Years in Prison for Selling 'Kush'

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk will call for legislation Monday that would
toughen drug-trafficking laws regarding a highly potent form of
marijuana, with penalties of up to 25 years in prison for a first-time
offense.

The law would target offenders who sell or distribute marijuana that
has a THC content exceeding 15 percent, which is between 5 and 10
percentage points higher than average marijuana, according to Kirk's
office.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main active ingredient in
marijuana.

Drug dealers are increasingly cross-breeding plants to produce
high-potency variants of marijuana, which are called "kush" in street
slang when they have 20 percent THC, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curransaid.

Police have been turning up more of the high-potency marijuana in Lake
County arrests, he said.

"When you amplify the strength of it, you are increasing the harm to
the system," said Curran, who supports the legislation, which would
amend a federal law. "They are more dangerous behind the wheel of a
vehicle. It's not a good idea to have people that messed up."

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has reported that kush sells
for as high as $600 per ounce, creating the same profit potential as
crack cocaine, Kirk said.

The Republican North Shore lawmaker said he plans to release more
information during a news conference in Chicago on Monday, where he
will be joined by representatives from the Lake County Sheriff's
Department, the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group and
Waukegan Police Department.