The San Antonio Express News is reporting that the controversial governor of Texas and failed 2012 presidential hopeful Rick Perry has announced that he is for the decriminalization of marijuana. He’s not supporting legalization, though. A softening of the punishments for non-violent offenders is his goal. From the article:
?As governor, I have begun to implement policies that start us toward a decriminalization? by introducing alternative ?drug courts? that provide treatment and softer penalties for minor offenses, Perry said during an international panel on drug legalization at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Don’t be looking for him to embrace pot legalization anytime soon, however. His spokesperson confirmed the governor’s opposition to legalized marijuana because he feels that it’s dangerous.
?Legalization is no penalty at all, whereas decriminalization doesn’t necessarily mean jail time (for minor possession offenses). It means more of a fine or counseling or some sort of program where you don’t end up in jail but in a rehabilitative program,? said Lucy Nashed, a spokeswoman for Perry.
?The goal is to keep people out of jails and reduce recidivism, that kind of thing,? she said, adding that decriminalization would exclude violent offenders and dealers.
Texas laws are harsh against marijuana offenders. A person caught with less than two ounces of marijuana can be forced to pay a fine of up to $2,000 and sentenced to as many as 180 days in jail. Five ounces? Expect to be locked up for up to two years.
