PASS BILL, SAVE SPACE

House Bill 1028, a bill to reduce the offense levels for marijuana
possession in Texas, has received little attention from Texas citizens.
While many individuals feel the bill does not apply to them, an official
fiscal analysis shows that it will. According to the Legislative Budget
Bureau, decreased incarceration of marijuana offenders will save Texas over
40 million dollars in 5 years and more than 3,000 prison beds in 10
years. If H.B. 1028 passes, it will mean more money and more prison space
could be used to fight violent crime.

Instead of punishing nonviolent marijuana users, the state could afford to
keep rapist and murderers behind bars and not prematurely free them on
parole. This bill will benefit all Texas citizens, and all Texas
legislatures should support it.

Kat DeBurgh

Marijuana Policy Project

Washington, DC