1/27/2014 Perry defends states’ right to legalize marijuana » Standard-Times Login | Manage Account | Mobile News Today Sports Local Wind Advisory | Contact Us | Site Map | Subscriptions | eEdition | Reader Rewards | Business Obituaries issued for Opinion My San Angelo Entertainment Data Center Lifestyles State National Media World Jobs Politics Irion, Coke, Tom Green, Concho Alerts Homes Cars Classified Columnists IN EFFECT UNTIL JAN 27, 12:00 p.m. Perry defends states’ right to legalize marijuana By Will Weissert Associated Press Posted January 23, 2014 at 10 p.m. Discuss Print A A A Sign up for email updates Never miss a thing! Sign up for email updates to be alerted when new content is available from your favorite Go San Angelo special sections. No subscription or site registration required! PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAYWORTH Associated Press File Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks in Des Moines, Iowa. This is a year of auditioning, positioning, networking and just plain hard work for people who are considering running for president in 2016. You could see them stirring in 2013 as they plugged holes in resumes, took preliminary steps to build potential campaign organizations and made carefully calibrated moves to get better known by Americans generally and key constituencies in particular. Most _ but not all _ are ticking off items on what could be called the presidential prep checklist. And theyíve got baggage to deal with. (AP Photo/Justin Hayworth, File) AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry defended Colorado and Washington’s legalization of marijuana on Thursday, saying it was an issue of state rights, while touting initiatives in Texas as national models for keeping minor drug offenders out of jail. Perry’s comments during the World Economic Forum in Switzerland echoed his past http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2014/jan/23/Perry-Marijuana/ 1/4 1/27/2014 Perry defends states’ right to legalize marijuana » Standard-Times comments on drug policy, but they caused a bit of a stir because of how publicly the Republican endorsed lesser punishments for non-violent drug offenders. His spokesman, Lucy Nashed, said the governor was promoting Texas drug courts, which offer treatment instead of jail time for non-violent offenders. But she 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. Most Popular Viewed Commented Death notices, 1/27 Updated 1/26/2014 at 11:12 p.m. Nashed didn’t have video of Perry making the comments, which according to U.S. News and World Report came during a panel discussion on drug policy that also included former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. 0 com m ents DPS identifies drivers in fatal crash Published 1/25/2014 at 8:23 p.m. “He’s very much for rehabbing and a diversionary program (rather) than sending people directly to jail, and I think he’s been pretty clear about that during his time as governor,” Nashed said. “This is for non-violent offenders and, for a lot of circumstances, it’s the right policy.” Emailed 0 com m ents Death notices, 1/26 Published 1/25/2014 at 3:27 p.m. 0 com m ents Drivers identified in fatal U.S. 277 crash Updated 1/25/2014 at 3:43 p.m. 0 com m ents UPDATES:County eyes 16 residences as abatement cases Updated 1/26/2014 at 10:55 p.m. 0 com m ents Photo Galleries But the governor did say that he couldn’t see Texas legalizing pot any time soon. “We certainly would never jump out in front of the parade,” Perry said, according to the news magazine. A staunch defender of states’ rights, Perry has often advocated for states setting their own policy on a number of potentially thorny issues — and has sometimes gotten himself into trouble in conservative circles for doing so. The governor has long said that it was fine for each state to set its own same-sex marriage policy — but while running for president in 2011, he clarified that he personally opposes it. Possession of less than four ounces of marijuana is a misdemeanor in Texas, as is selling less than seven grams of it. Many urban counties, meanwhile, only issue a ticket for possession of less than two ounces of marijuana without making arrests. Prosecutors often use drug courts to divert people out of the criminal justice system, where a conviction can lead to long-term unemployment and greater drug abuse. Neff's Amusement Park TOP PHOTOS: Jan. 25, 2014 TOP PHOTOS: Jan. 26, 2014 Weather Currently 36-Hour Your Photos Currently 33° Fair and Breezy Wind: NE 25mph Today 40° 15° More Weather » Texas has been at the forefront of diverting people convicted of non-violent drug offenses into treatment programs rather than jail. Even an influential conservative Austin think-tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, has a 3-year-old “Right on Crime” initiative to decrease the number of criminal laws across the country and reduce the number of non-violent criminals in prisons. Discuss Recommend Print Share 2 people recommend this. Sign Up to see what your friends recommend. 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(Hollyscoop) Recommended by Comments » 1 January 24, 2014 1:03 p.m. Suggest removal Reply to this post Hide lee.barnett81#274279 writes: STATES RIGHTS ARE INDEED PREEMINENT IN THIS MATTER. THE GOVERNORS POSITION ON THE CANNABIS ISSUE IS PRACTICAL AND REASONABLE. TEXANS ARE MOSTLY PRACTICAL AND REASONABLE, COUNTING ON THE SENSE OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE FREEDOM TO EXERCISE SAME. DRUG COURTS MAKE SENSE. Want to participate in the conversation? Become a subscriber today. Subscribers can read and comment on any story, anytime. Non-subscribers will only be able to view comments on select stories. Features On the Web: NEW-8,400 WARRANTS LISTED Interactive TV Super Listings Follow breaking news LIVE Anyone listed subject to arrest at any time. Click to search and browse hundreds of channels. Click for instant Twitter updates on breaking news. 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