CHICAGO (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner has used his veto authority to set higher fines in a bill decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana.
The Republican governor said in a veto letter Friday he supports “the fundamental purposes” of the bill, but “change must be made carefully and incrementally.”
The legislation would fine those caught with up to 15 grams between $55 and $125. Rauner sets the threshold at 10 grams and fines from $100 to $200.
In a separate veto letter, Rauner alters a bill extending the life of the state’s medical marijuana pilot program. Lawmakers sent him legislation that would extend the program by two or more years. Rauner says he’ll agree to a four-month extension.
The bills now go back to lawmakers.