San Antonio Express
Texas Gov. Rick Perry signaled Thursday that he's for the decriminalization of marijuana use — not legalization, but the softening of punishment for pot users in the border state.
“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.
Note, this was in Davos, Switzerland -- he must have gotten a rich patron to pay his way.
The smart money for the GOP 2016 race will try to take advantage of Chris Christie's flaws and it is very apparent that CC is going down. Rick Perry is jumping into the VAST hole in the GOP lineup left behind by the presumptive front runner.
Not to be outdone, I'd expect little Ricky Santorum and Huckabee to make their moves, along with the other sports in the GOP lineup.
“Legalization is no penalty at all, where as 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.
Yup. He's going populist.