Rick Perry: 'You Don't Want to Ruin a Kid's Life for Having a Joint'

During his week at SXSW in Austin, Texas, Jimmy Kimmel has had some stony guests Snoop Dogg, Seth Rogen) as well as Gov. Perry, who recently issued his support for liberalizing the state's marijuana laws.

Kimmel: In January you said you might possibly favor decriminalizing marijuana in the State of Texas.

Perry: For over a decade we've lowered the penalties. We're trying to be smart about it. You don't want to ruin a kid's life for having a joint. We put drug courts into place. I think we made some really smart decisions about dealing with people, particularly when it comes to these small amounts of drugs.

Kimmel: Did this decision have anything to do with Willie Nelson? Did he lobby you in any way for this?

Perry: You gotta love Willie - my biodiesel man. I saw Willie in 1968 at Panther Hall in Fort Worth, Texas. He was playing with Johnny Bush. Willie is probably one of the quintessential Austin people. I'm pretty sure Willie's never voted for me a a day in his life.

Kimmel: Do you think Willie remembers to vote?

He can find out Friday when Nelson is his guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Steve Bloom

Steve Bloom

Publisher of CelebStoner.com, former editor of High Times and Freedom Leaf and co-author of Pot Culture and Reefer Movie Madness.