Pubdate: Fri, 24 Jan 2014
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2014 The Dallas Morning News, Inc.
Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/send-a-letter/
Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: Christy Hoppe

PERRY DEFENDS STATES' RIGHTS ON DECISIONS ABOUT POT

At Swiss Forum, He Says He Doubts Texas Would Legalize It Anytime Soon

AUSTIN (AP) - Gov. Rick Perry is defending the rights of states, such 
as Colorado and Washington, to legalize marijuana, and he said 
Thursday that Texas has taken steps toward decriminalizing the drug.

Perry was on a panel discussing drug laws that included former U.N. 
Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Colombian President Juan Manuel 
Santos at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Annan and Santos said drug laws had proved ineffective and had made 
criminals out of generations of young people, as well as helped 
empower drug cartels.

Perry said he doesn't believe in legalizing certain drugs, according 
to an account of the panel by U.S. News & World Report. But Perry 
also emphasized that he is a staunch believer in states' rights on 
issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization.

"States should be allowed to make those decisions," he said.

Perry said that Texas has begun to "implement policies that start us 
toward a decriminalization" of marijuana. He cited specialized drug 
courts that offer treatment instead of jail time and the reduction of 
penalties for minor drug offenses.

The governor's spokesman, Lucy Nashed, sidestepped questions about 
whether Perry supported decriminalizing marijuana in Texas - where 
having or selling small amounts are misdemeanors - saying only that 
drug courts have worked in Texas and should be an example to other 
states and countries.

"He's very much for rehabbing and a diversionary program [rather] 
than sending people directly to jail," Nashed said. "This is for 
nonviolent offenders and, for a lot of circumstances, it's the right policy."

The governor said he doubted Texas would legalize pot anytime soon.

"We certainly would never jump out in front of the parade," Perry 
said, according to U.S. News.

Perry's ability to push for a major policy change is limited at this 
point. He's leaving office after this year, and the Legislature isn't 
scheduled to meet again in his tenure.

During his four days in Switzerland, Perry has been meeting with 
entrepreneurs, heads of state and other luminaries. He's posted 
pictures of himself on Twitter with computer company president 
Michael Dell, former presidential candidate and publishing executive 
Steve Forbes, and Santos. 
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom