Texas Dems push to decriminalize pot

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Texas Democratic party is calling for the decriminalization of marijuana, but insists that the move does not suggests it condones usage of the controlled substance.

"The Texas Democratic Party does not condone the use of marijuana," said party spokeswoman Rebecca Acuna. "Our platform simply recognizes that laws currently in place do nothing to promote public safety or fiscal responsibility. We are calling for policies that are smart on crime and will transition non-violent individuals from jail and into treatment."

At their state convention this month in Houston, Democrats adopted a plank in their platform urging "the President, the Attorney General and the Congress to support the passage of legislation to decriminalize the possession of marijuana and regulate its use, production, and sale as is done with tobacco and alcohol."

The Texas Republican Party platform, adopted this month at the convention in Fort Worth, makes no specific mention of marijuana. The document does, however, contain a plank opposing the "legalization of illicit drugs."