Voters in three Texas cities decided to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Dallas and the Central Texas cities of Lockhart and Bastrop .
All three measures were similar in specific language and were supported by the advocacy group Ground Game Texas.
“I think people are just generally � especially with marijuana � I think we’re tired of these outdated, draconian marijuana laws,� Ground Game Texas Executive Director Catina Voellinger said.
with about 67% of voters in favor. The vote in Lockhart for Proposition A was also approved by 67%. In Bastrop, an area that’s been growing as people are searching for more affordable living, Proposition M passed even more decisively � with more than 69% in favor.
“I think our success in Dallas, and then in places like Bastrop and Lockhart, proves that once again, that the state’s laws aren’t in line with the needs of its residents,� Voellinger said.
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All three measures prohibit city police officers from arresting people suspected of having four ounces or less of marijuana � except in specific circumstances. They also ban police from considering the smell of marijuana a probable cause for a search or seizure and they prohibit city money to be used to test whether a substance meets the legal definition of marijuana, except in some limited circumstances.
Dallas is now the largest Texas city to have made such a move with voters involved � though local leaders at the county level have deprioritized such arrests in places including Harris and Bexar counties.
So what does it mean to decriminalize marijuana in a city when it’s still illegal in Texas?
Those putting these measures on the ballot have thought about that. The actual amendments include some specific caveat language including preambles reading � “Unless and until a binding act of state or federal court requires otherwise…�
The amendments also say if such a requirement is handed down, the city will still make misdemeanor marijuana possession its lowest enforcement policy and update budgets, manuals and policies to reflect that.
Further, there’s language saying if a court finds a subsection of the act illegal, the rest will stay in place.
Still, it’s a space worth watching. Early in 2024, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued five cities â€� including Austin and Denton â€� which passed similar measures to decriminalize marijuana. A AGÕæÈË°Ù¼ÒÀÖ County judge dismissed the Austin lawsuit. The Republican-led legislature starts up in January.
Those in support of decriminalization aren’t deterred.
“We’re going to keep doing this patchwork organizing until we can hopefully see change statewide,� Voellinger said.
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