Ask your legislators to cut the budget deficit by reducing marijuana penalties

According to recent media reports, Iowa is facing a $300 million budget deficit. Government officials are considering deep budget cuts and tax increases as the two likely options for bridging the shortfall. Reform of the state's harsh marijuana penalties should also be considered as a means of saving money.

Incarcerating nonviolent marijuana offenders is a costly policy. Ending the prosecution of nonviolent marijuana offenses and releasing nonviolent offenders would reduce Iowa's prison expenses and save taxpayers' money without reducing public safety. Not only would the state save $20,000 per year, per inmate, on prison costs, but for every nonviolent offender not prosecuted, the state would also save on court costs and police time.

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Reforming Iowa's draconian marijuana laws would be a logical first step in saving money and ensuring that nonviolent offenders—not murderers and rapists—are released from jail. Under current law, a single marijuana possession offense is punishable by up to six months in jail, and subsequent offenses are punishable by up to one year in prison. The cultivation or sale of any amount of marijuana is punishable by five years in prison.

Time is running out to introduce bills during the 2003 legislative session, so it is important that legislators hear from you quickly. Please pass this message on to others so that more voices can call out for reform.