John DiSanto

John DiSanto is running for the Republican nomination in the 15th state Senate District primary election in April.

(John DiSanto campaign website)

State Senate candidate John DiSanto appears to be backing off his support for marijuana legalization two days after he openly supported such a measure during a GOP primary debate in Perry County.

In a letter posted Wednesday on his campaign website, DiSanto, a Republican seeking the 15th state Senate District nomination, said while he "used the term 'legalization,'" he should have actually said "decriminalization" when referring to marijuana.

But DiSanto didn't choose the latter term Monday night. Following the debate with primary opponent Andrew Lewis, PennLive asked DiSanto to clarify whether he supported decriminalization or legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

DiSanto responded: "I'm in support of legalizing marijuana. And that would be done within the laws of Pennsylvania very similar to alcohol use."

"I don't think we need to get caught up in, you know, we're going to decriminalize a little bit of marijuana, but, if you have three ounces over here, it's a crime because a lot of that stuff is going to take care of itself," DiSanto said then. "If it becomes legalized and a regular commodity product, you'll be able to go to the store and buy the quantity that you're comfortable using."

DiSanto also said Monday that he didn't support the notion of people obtaining an "ounce of marijuana," smoking it and then driving.

PennLive attempted to reach DiSanto Wednesday afternoon for comment on the apparent discrepancy between his post-debate comments and the letter posted Wednesday on his campaign website, but those attempts were unsuccessful.

In the letter, DiSanto said he understood that his comments concerning marijuana had "created quite a stir." DiSanto admitted that, not being a "career politician," he would sometimes be "blunt" and wouldn't always "answer questions in a politically correct way."

In addressing the marijuana issue, DiSanto stated he should have used the word "decriminalization" instead of "legalization."

"I believe the real issue confronting society is opiate use leading to heroin addiction," DiSanto said in the letter. "I believe law enforcement should be spending their efforts and resources confronting this crisis, which by far is the most destructive, epidemic we are facing."

DiSanto stated that he didn't support legalizing or decriminalizing dangerous drugs, but that "without a clear danger to individuals" he believed "decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana [was] the right public policy." And he said the expense of "this war on marijuana" couldn't be justified "when we face life threatening drugs like heroin prevalent on our streets."

"I believe we need to use these precious resources to fight that epidemic, not to chase and prosecute small amounts of marijuana," DiSanto said in the letter.

In the very least, DiSanto said he hoped that legislators would gain consensus on medical marijuana legislation that has been moving through the state House and Senate.

DiSanto ended his letter with the following: "If asked the question again I would be clearer in my comments, however the answer would be the same. I have promised to always be forthright and honest in my comments. I cannot start to answer questions in a 'politically correct' manner. Otherwise I would become just another career politician."

Below is a screen shot of DiSanto's letter posted Wednesday on his campaign website, http://disantoforsenate.com.