In a significant legal victory for cannabis reform advocates, a Texas district court has dismissed a lawsuit brought by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who had tried to overturn a voter-approved marijuana decriminalization measure that was approved in Austin in 2022 by nearly 80% of adults.

The ruling by Travis County District Court Judge Jan Soifer, issued on Tuesday, rejected both the challenge and a request for a temporary injunction, reported KXAN, a local NBC outlet.

As a result, the decriminalization initiative remains in effect, though Paxton may still appeal to a higher court. Austin is the state’s fifth-largest city in Texas.

AG Paxton Is Suing Five Cities

Paxton has filed similar lawsuits against four other Texas cities, including San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin and Denton, all of which have adopted voter-supported decriminalization policies in recent years.

This decision marks the first judicial defeat for Paxton’s campaign against local cannabis reforms. In February, Paxton said, "I will not stand idly by as cities run by pro-crime extremists deliberately violate Texas law and promote the use of illicit drugs that harm our communities.”

Ground Game Texas

Ground Game Texas, the organization leading the local decriminalization efforts in Texas, hailed the court’s decision as a crucial victory for democracy and progressive policy. “This is a great victory, not only to protect the will of Austin voters, but also to encourage voters in places like Dallas to support our campaigns this year," Ground Game Texas, wrote in a Wednesday email.

🚨 Case Dismissed! 🚨

An Austin judge rejected Ken Paxton's attempt to overrule local democracy and upheld marijuana reform in Austin! 🌿

This ruling sets an important precedent for other courts to follow. Paxton has no business telling cities how to enforce their laws. pic.twitter.com/ebKwiSXkCx

— GroundGameTX (@GroundGameTX) June 12, 2024

The court’s ruling comes as activists in Lockhart recently submitted sufficient signatures to place a cannabis decriminalization initiative on the local ballot for this November. Dallas is also poised to consider similar reforms in the upcoming election cycle, bolstered by Ground Game’s ongoing campaigns.

“Ground Game's campaign in Austin is what got this organization started. We took our victory here and expanded to five more cities — and have only grown from there,” the organization stated. “By protecting our first policy victory, we keep our statewide momentum going and encourage more cities to follow suit.”

However, not all cannabis reform efforts in Texas have met with success. Last month, voters in Lubbock rejected a proposed marijuana decriminalization initiative, reflecting the ongoing debate and division over cannabis policies in the Lone Star State.

Governor Gets Involved

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has also voiced strong opposition to local cannabis decriminalization efforts and sided with Paxton in his lawsuit against the five cities.

"Local communities such as towns, cities and counties, they don't have the authority to override state law," Abbott said at the time.

As the legal battles over marijuana decriminalization continue in Texas, the court’s decision in Austin represents a critical moment in the broader push for cannabis reform across the state.

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Photo: El Planteo