REP. KIRK WANTS TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR SUPER POT

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk and police on Monday warned about a highly potent
form of marijuana they say is showing up more in the suburbs.

Kirk also unveiled proposed legislation that would create tougher
criminal penalties for anyone convicted of selling highly potent marijuana.

The drug variety in question, known on the street as Kush, is far
more intoxicating than what was typically in circulation a decade
ago, according to a news release from Kirk's office.

Named after a region in the Middle East, Kush has been around for
years. Officials said it's become more plentiful here recently
because local drug dealers have discovered it can be more profitable
than other types of marijuana.

Criminal penalties for dealing the drug also are lighter than those
for cocaine, said Kirk, a Highland Park Republican.

"Dealers told (police) they were going into Kush because of the light
sentences," Kirk said.

Kirk talked about the drug and his legislative remedy at a news
conference in Chicago and in an interview afterward. He was
accompanied by Waukegan police Chief Artis Yancey and representatives
from the Lake County sheriff's office and Lake County Metropolitan
Enforcement Group.

Kush has an unusually high percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol, or
THC, the main psychoactive substance in marijuana, Kirk said.

Drug producers have been able to make marijuana stronger through
growing techniques that allow them to control light, temperature and
other factors, according to the news release.

Kirk backs legislation that would enhance federal drug-trafficking
penalties to deal with this variety.

Kirk's plan would target people distributing marijuana with a THC
content of 15 percent or more. The Kush variety, authorities said,
has a THC content of at least 20 percent.

The law, if passed, would not apply to people convicted merely of possession.

The proposed legislation would increase maximum fines to $1 million
for an individual or $5 million for a group and would boost maximum
prison sentences to 25 years.

Penalties would increase for second offenses.