Governor Haslam Just Says No To Pot Decriminalization

Tennessee's two largest cities are considering reducing the penalty for small amounts of pot, but Memphis and Nashville shouldn't count on the governor's support.

Gov. Bill Haslam declared he is "not a fan" of nearly-identical decriminalization efforts in the Bluff City and the Music City. The Nashville bill would make possession of less than a half ounce of marijuana punishable by a $50 civil penalty, similar to a parking ticket, with an option for the judge to instead impose 10 hours of community service. Under the Memphis proposal, police officers would have the option to write a $50 ticket for a half-ounce or less.

Either way, Haslam thinks it's a step in the wrong direction.

He told WATN in Memphis that the state has too much of a substance abuse problem to be scaling back criminal enforcement.

"While I do think we've had some people who have spent more time in jail than they need to for that. I'm not in favor of decriminalizing that," he said. "I think we have enough of an issue around substance abuse now. You can debate whether it's a gateway drug and all this. I'm not the expert. But I just don't think its a helpful step for our society given the struggles we have right now with substance abuse."

Image via the United States Department of Agriculture