Dallas Voters Could Decide on Marijuana Decriminalization in November
06/14/2024
Dallas voters could have the opportunity to decide whether to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana in the upcoming November election. Council member Chad West is set to propose the Dallas Freedom Act at a June 26 meeting, following a petition that garnered over 50,000 signatures from residents supporting the change.
The proposed measure aims to direct the Dallas Police Department to cease arrests and ticket issuance for possession of less than four ounces of marijuana. Currently, possessing two to four ounces is classified as a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, while holding under two ounces is a class B misdemeanor, with a potential sentence of up to 180 days.
The Dallas Freedom Act is part of a growing trend in Texas, with similar ordinances already passed in six other cities, including Austin, Killeen, Harker Heights, Denton, Elgin, and San Marcos. However, these efforts have faced resistance from city officials and legal challenges from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
If approved by voters, Dallas would become the largest city in the state to sidestep existing laws that criminalize recreational marijuana use. This comes after a similar initiative in Lubbock failed last month.
Council members Adam Bazaldua and Jaime Resendez have expressed support for the measure, citing the disproportionate impact of marijuana-related arrests on communities of color and the need for statutory relief.
"Our jails are overfilled with predominantly brown and black males serving sentences for a substance that is making others millions of dollars in more than 30 states across the country," said Bazaldua. "It's past time we take action against this injustice."
Resendez emphasized the racial disparities in marijuana-related arrests and the need for decriminalization to address these inequalities. "Although marijuana use is comparable across racial lines, Black and Latino individuals are disproportionately arrested and punished," he said. "Decriminalization is the best way to address this disparity."
While a majority of Texans support some form of marijuana decriminalization, the state's conservative leadership has historically been resistant to relaxing marijuana laws. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and his allies have blocked legislation that would have expanded the state's medical marijuana program and decriminalized small amounts of the drug.
The Dallas Freedom Act represents a significant step toward addressing the issue of marijuana decriminalization at the local level. However, the state's opposition to such measures and the legal challenges they face highlight the ongoing debate surrounding marijuana policy in Texas.
Reference
The proposed measure aims to direct the Dallas Police Department to cease arrests and ticket issuance for possession of less than four ounces of marijuana. Currently, possessing two to four ounces is classified as a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, while holding under two ounces is a class B misdemeanor, with a potential sentence of up to 180 days.
The Dallas Freedom Act is part of a growing trend in Texas, with similar ordinances already passed in six other cities, including Austin, Killeen, Harker Heights, Denton, Elgin, and San Marcos. However, these efforts have faced resistance from city officials and legal challenges from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
If approved by voters, Dallas would become the largest city in the state to sidestep existing laws that criminalize recreational marijuana use. This comes after a similar initiative in Lubbock failed last month.
Council members Adam Bazaldua and Jaime Resendez have expressed support for the measure, citing the disproportionate impact of marijuana-related arrests on communities of color and the need for statutory relief.
"Our jails are overfilled with predominantly brown and black males serving sentences for a substance that is making others millions of dollars in more than 30 states across the country," said Bazaldua. "It's past time we take action against this injustice."
Resendez emphasized the racial disparities in marijuana-related arrests and the need for decriminalization to address these inequalities. "Although marijuana use is comparable across racial lines, Black and Latino individuals are disproportionately arrested and punished," he said. "Decriminalization is the best way to address this disparity."
While a majority of Texans support some form of marijuana decriminalization, the state's conservative leadership has historically been resistant to relaxing marijuana laws. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and his allies have blocked legislation that would have expanded the state's medical marijuana program and decriminalized small amounts of the drug.
The Dallas Freedom Act represents a significant step toward addressing the issue of marijuana decriminalization at the local level. However, the state's opposition to such measures and the legal challenges they face highlight the ongoing debate surrounding marijuana policy in Texas.
Reference
