Lockhart, Texas Voters to Consider Cannabis Decriminalization Proposal in November

Voters in Lockhart, Texas are set to vote on a ballot measure that would decriminalize low-level cannabis possession in the city after the City Council on Tuesday agreed to put the proposition on November ballots, KVUE reports. During the meeting, counselors did consider breaking up the proposal on ballots into 13 separate propositions due to the complexity of the question, but that plan drew pushback from Mike Siegel, general counsel for Ground Game Texas, which led the campaign. 

“It’s disrespectful to the voters and also because it’s illegal. The city council actually doesn’t have the discretion to change the policy that the voters have put forward. So we’re asking them to follow the law, save city resources and do what’s right.” — Siegel, via KVUE 

Lockhart City Attorney Brad Bullock said he wasn’t trying to sabotage the effort but that the “simpler” language that would appear on ballots wasn’t sufficient to inform voters. Ultimately, the wording was reworked and will appear as one question. 

Lockhart voters will join those in Bastrop and Dallas on voting on cannabis decriminalization in November. Bastrop and Dallas officials certified their own petitions last month. 

Voters in Austin, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and San Marcos have approved similar measures. In May, voters in Lubbock rejected a decriminalization referendum, as did San Antonio voters last year; however, San Antonio’s measure was tied to larger criminal justice reforms. Voters in Harker Heights also approved the reforms, but the city council ultimately repealed the initiative.  

Cannabis remains outlawed for any purpose under state law.