Joint Press Release: Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition; ACLU of Texas; Goodwill Central Texas; Prison Fellowship Ministries; Texas Association of Business; Christian Life Commission; Texas Criminal Justice Coalition; Texas Public Policy Foundation

Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition Praises Governor Abbott’s Support of Marijuana Law Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 26, 2018

CONTACT: Bill Hammond, Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition, bill@billhammondandassociates.com

AUSTIN – The Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition today released the following statement praising Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s support for reducing the penalty for possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana from a Class B to a Class C misdemeanor.

“As a steward of taxpayer money we appreciate the forward thinking of Governor Abbott in advocating for the shifting of public safety dollars to combatting serious crime and protecting the public rather than utilizing valuable safety resources on minuscule amounts of marijuana possession,” said Bill Hammond, Chief Strategist for the Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition. “This is a practical, smart-on-crime step in the right direction.”

The Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition released its statement this week, after meeting for the first time since Governor Abbott shared his views on marijuana during a gubernatorial debate on September 28. “What I would be open to talking to the legislature about would be reducing the penalty for possession of two ounces or less from a class B misdemeanor to a class C misdemeanor,” Abbott said.

The Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition is the largest statewide effort working to make Texas’ criminal justice system smarter, safer, and more cost effective. Founded in 2014, the Coalition brings together businesses, faith-based organizations, and nonprofit organizations to pursue bipartisan plans to address, reduce, and prevent crime; the Coalition advocates for evidence-based reforms that provide just punishment, support crime victims, and provide a path to redemption for people who have committed crime so they can get back to work and be productive members of society. Members of the coalition include: ACLU of Texas; Goodwill Central Texas; Prison Fellowship Ministries; Texas Association of Business; Christian Life Commission; Texas Criminal Justice Coalition; and Texas Public Policy Foundation.

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