Voters in Dallas, Texas could get to consider a cannabis decriminalization initiative during this November’s election if the City Council approves the Dallas Freedom Act for local ballots later this month, the Texas Tribune reports.
Council member Chad West will formally introduce the issue during the City Council’s June 27 meeting after advocates submitted more than 50,000 petition signatures supporting the initiative. If advanced by the council — and then passed by voters — the Dallas Freedom Act would instruct police to stop writing tickets or making arrests for possessing up to four ounces of cannabis.
“Voters in our city and across the country want to decriminalize marijuana. Our already burdened police should focus their attention on serious crime, not arresting people with small amounts of marijuana. Bringing this to voters through a City Council-proposed Charter amendment instead of a petition will save the city time and resources.” — West, in a statement via the Texas Tribune
The following six Texas cities have already adopted local cannabis reforms: Austin, Denton, Elgin, Harker Heights, Killeen, and San Marcos. However, state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has filed suit against many of the cities and city officials over the local decriminalization policies, arguing they violate state laws and the state constitution.
City officials in Harker Heights, meanwhile, were sued separately by advocates after they refused to carry out the proposal after it was approved by voters in 2022.
Amid the attorney general’s crackdown on municipalities with voter-backed local cannabis reforms, voters in Lubbock, Texas recently rejected a cannabis decriminalization proposal.
Get daily cannabis business news updates. Subscribe
End