Voters in Houston, Texas, will consider deprioritizing local cannabis law enforcement in the November elections, according to Houston Public Media.
If passed by voters, the petition brought by advocacy group Ground Game Texas would set misdemeanor cannabis possession charges as the “lowest possible enforcement priority” for the Houston Police Department (HPD).
Advocates submitted over 40,000 signatures for the petition, which the city council approved as a referendum on Wednesday. The petition would also ban the use of no-knock warrants within city limits.
At least eight other Texas cities have passed local cannabis enforcement reforms, including Austin, Dallas, and Killeen.
Under Texas state law, cannabis possession up to four ounces is a misdemeanor that carries a jail sentence of up to 1 year and a $4,000 fine. Officers in Harris County can currently choose to divert individuals who are picked up on cannabis charges from jail to a 4-hour cognitive class paired with a 90-day community supervision program.
Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) filed lawsuits in 2024 against five cities over their cannabis decriminalization policies, arguing the reforms violate state laws and the state constitution.
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