Rick Perry Backs Softer Penalties for Pot

Rick Perry favors softening penalties for marijuana possession, but don't expect the Lone Star State to turn into a toker's paradise any time soon. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, the Texas governor said he had brought in "policies that start us toward a decriminalization" by creating alternative "drug courts" that offer treatment and alternative penalties that keep marijuana users out of jail, the San Antonio Express-News reports. He did not address medical marijuana use.

But Perry made it clear that while he believes states should be able to set their own drug policies, he is not in favor of full decriminalization, let alone legalization, in the state, reports the Austin American-Statesman. "There are some alternatives without going that big full step and decriminalizing and sending a message to people that it’s OK," he said. (More Rick Perry stories.)