Lollapalooza, new city pot law coincide

Chicago's three-day Lollapalooza music festival opened Friday coinciding with the city's new marijuana ticket ordinance. Beginning Saturday, police can issue $250 tickets to those caught in possession of small amounts of marijuana, but Chicago Police Department officials point out that procedure will not apply within the festival's fenced-in grounds at the lakefront Grant Park. The land is part of the Chicago Park District, exempt from the new rule. However, police can continue to arrest anyone on park land in possession of less than 15 grams of marijuana, the Chicago Tribune reported. Police have not announced a change in policy for the festival, but spokeswoman Melissa Stratton said there is no special order to less strictly enforce the law at the festival. "If an office sees use of marijuana taking place they will make an arrest," she said.