The Inquirer may have overstated today's good weed news. Like we told you earlier, the Inky reported that the state Supreme Court and District Attorney Seth Williams have announced that the penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana in Philly will become more lax starting at end of April. (The title of the Inky story is, in fact, "Philadelphia to ease marijuana penalty.") But check out this press release we just got from Williams:

We are not decriminalizing marijuana — any effort like that would be one for the legislature to undertake. The penalty available for these minimal amount offenses remains exactly the same. What we are doing is properly dealing with cases involving minimal amounts of marijuana in the most efficient and cost effective process possible. Those arrested for these offenses will still be restrained, identified and processed by police in police custody. They will still have to answer to the charges, but they will be doing so in a speedier and more efficient process. We want to use valuable court resources in the best way possible and we believe that means giving minor drug offenders the option of getting into diversionary programs, get drug education or enter drug treatment centers. Again we are NOT decriminalizing marijuana, and the penalty for these offenses remains the same.

We'll update as we find out more.

PREVIOUSLY >> Weed is practically decriminalized in Philly

Seth Williams: “We are not decriminalizing marijuana”