Texas is joining the growing list of states concerned about the cost of incarcerating low level drug offenders. Two bills have been introduced this session to reduce drug penalties and offer treatment.

Both bills aim to reduce the number of people locked up for such crimes, require treatment for drug addicts, and keep those caught with small amounts of drugs from being saddled with a felony conviction that could impair their ability to get jobs or rent apartments. The Houston Chronicle reported last fall that nearly half of the 15,000 inmates in the state jail system -- lower-security jails established in 1994 to house nonviolent felons -- were there for drug crimes involving less than 1 gram. The bulk of those offenders -- 49 percent -- were from Harris County.

These statistics are mind-boggling. For those of you not familiar with drug quantities, one gram is 1/28 of an ounce--think, a "sweet and low" or "equal" packet:

Of the 58,000 drug convictions won by local prosecutors over the past five years, 77 percent involved less than 1 gram, according to a Chronicle analysis of district court data. Harris County sent 35,000 of the small-time offenders to jail or prison.