Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) said Thursday that he’s open to marijuana decriminalization in the Lone Star state.
“As governor, I have begun to implement policies that start us toward a decriminalization,” Perry said at a World Economic Forum panel on drug legalization in Davos, Switzerland, according to the San Antonio Express-News. He was referring to “drug courts” in the state that provide treatment and softer penalties for minor offenses.
A Perry spokeswoman confirmed to the Express-News that while Perry is opposed to legalization of the drug because of medical issues, the governor supports policies that lower punishments for marijuana use in order to keep smokers out of jail.
Perry has long been opposed to legalization, but as the Express-News pointed out the governor also previously voiced support for states’ rights to legalize the drug.
