I got second letter from Congress after I emailed them about legalization in Texas.

Dear Mr. XXXXXXXX,

Thank you for contacting me. It is good to hear from you and I’m pleased to respond.

Throughout my 30 years in law enforcement, I've seen first-hand the human and monetary cost of high recidivism rates and our broken criminal justice system. While Sheriff of Fort Bend County, I created cutting edge recidivism reduction programs like HVAC and welding training programs for non-violent Fort Bend County jail inmates, at no cost to taxpayers. These programs gave inmates the skills needed to gain employment following their release. I will continue using this experience in Congress to be a voice for criminal justice reform.

As you may know, H.R. 5977, the States Reform Act, would seek to remove cannabis from Schedule I in a manner consistent with the rights of states to make their own decisions on cannabis moving forward. Supporters of this bill argue Congress must repeal the federal prohibition of marijuana, while allowing products to be taxed—providing billions of dollars in revenue for reentry and employment programs. This bill has been referred to numerous House Committees, where it awaits further review. Please rest assured I will keep your views in mind as I monitor the progress of this legislation.

I appreciate the opportunity to work for you in Congress. Please visit www.nehls.house.gov, my various social media sites (@RepTroyNehls), and feel free to contact me in the future with any concerns you may have.

Sincerely,

Rep. Troy E. Nehls

Member of Congress