Texas activists have begun collecting signatures for local marijuana decriminalization measures to be placed on the ballot of two additional cities in November: Dallas and Lockhart.
Ground Game Texas, Texas Cannabis Collective and other groups are leading the reform effort. They aim to build on the recent victories of decriminalization in localities across the Lone Star State.
Over the weekend, signature gathering began. Advocates circulated petitions and welcomed volunteers to help bring the issue in front of voters.
Ground Game stated that “Dallas it’s now time to hear our voices!” “Let’s pave a way for a rational policy that is also necessary.”
Dallas’ measure prevents police from arresting or issuing citations in cases of Class A or B misdemeanor marijuana possession, unless they are part of an urgent felony investigation into narcotics and violent crimes.
The measure also states that “Dallas Police shall not consider an odor of cannabis or hemp as probable cause for any seizure or search.”
The city manager would be required to submit quarterly reports to the Dallas City Council on the implementation and any arrests for marijuana possession or citations.
The Lockhart measures contain much the same language. This includes the decriminalization policies and the cannabis odor rules for law enforcement. The measure would also prevent the city of Lockhart from ordering cannabis product testing to determine if they meet the definitions of marijuana and hemp as part a criminal investigation.
Dallas is Texas’ third-largest city by population. Lockhart, however, is a small area in the San Antonio region.
We are now off to collect signatures for the decriminalization of marijuana in Dallas! pic.twitter.com/wQjndAKuhT
Texas Cannabis Collective 20 January 2024
Lubbock voters will have the chance to vote on a local measure of decriminalization in May , after lawmakers approved the resolution to put it on the ballot .
Austin and Delton , Elgin , Harker Heights (Killeen), Harker Heights (Killeen) and San Marcos are other cities that have passed decriminalization measures for cannabis. These efforts were led largely by Ground Game.
This organization published a report in November that examined the impact of marijuana reform laws. The report found that these measures would keep hundreds out of prison, despite the fact that they had led to a backlash from some law enforcement agencies. Report said that the initiatives had also increased voter turnout because they were on the ballot.
A measure to decriminalize cannabis in San Antonio was defeated by a large margin last May. However, this proposal included provisions unrelated to the issue that would have prevented enforcement of abortion restrictions.
In certain jurisdictions, where decriminalization was approved by voters, advocates have had to deal with issues.
The city council reversed the ordinance shortly after Harker Heights voters approved it, citing concerns that the measure was in conflict with state law. But activists successfully collected signatures to repeal the repeal in May last year.
The Killeen City Council temporarily suspended the implementation of an ordinance that was approved by local voters. They claimed that they needed to address legal issues before approving it, which is what they did. Bell County, however, filed a suit in April last year to challenge the policy.
The Texas House of Representatives last year passed a number of bills that would decriminalize cannabis, allow expungements, and give chronic pain patients access to medical cannabis as a substitute for opioids. But the Senate ultimately blocked the bills. This has been the theme of cannabis reform in the conservative legislative body for several sessions.
In 2021 and 2019, the House adopted similar proposals for decriminalizing cannabis.
A Texas Democratic Senator brought marijuana legalization up on the Senate floor in May of last year, trying to attach an amendment to a resolution that was unrelated. This would have allowed Texans the opportunity to vote at the polls to end prohibition. But , the symbolic proposal was ultimately rejected. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), in agreement with another member, agreed that the cannabis amendment was not relevant to the larger legislation.
According to a University of Texas/Texas Politics Project survey in 2022, nearly three-quarters of Texas voters (72%) support decriminalizing cannabis. Over half (55%) of respondents said they support a broader legalization. Seventeen percent of respondents said that it should not be legalized at all.
The same institution also showed in March that a majority felt that Texas’ marijuana laws should “be less strict.”
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