Texas Town Becomes Third To Successfully Place Cannabis Decriminalization On November Ballot

In a remarkable display of civic engagement, residents of Bastrop, Texas, have successfully placed a cannabis decriminalization measure on the November ballot. This move mirrors a broader trend across the state, where local populations are pushing back against stringent state laws to advocate for more lenient cannabis policies.

Bastrop Campaign Pushes Cannabis Decriminalization

The Bastrop campaign, spearheaded by Desiree Venable, a Democrat running for a seat in the Texas House, garnered significant community support, collecting 438 verified signatures to exceed the threshold required for ballot inclusion, according to KXAN. The proposed legislation would allow individuals to possess up to four ounces of marijuana without facing criminal charges, aiming to curtail unnecessary legal prosecutions and align with the evolving public opinion on cannabis.

Texas AG Paxton Opposes Local Decriminalization Efforts

However, this local initiative is met with significant opposition from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has actively sued several Texas cities that have enacted similar decriminalization measures. Paxton argues that these local ordinances violate state law, describing the municipalities’ actions as “unconstitutional” and a form of “anarchy.” His aggressive stance exemplifies the ongoing conflict between state power and local autonomy in the realm of drug policy.

Read Also: Too Many Cannabis Shops, Too Small Profit: How To Play The Municipal Game In The Legal Weed Era

Momentum For Decriminalization Grows Statewide

Meanwhile, despite this resistance from the state, the movement for decriminalization continues to gather momentum. In addition to Bastrop, cities like Austin, Denton, Lockhart and Dallas also moved forward with similar ballot measures. These initiatives are buoyed by public support and the advocacy of organizations like Ground Game Texas, which has been instrumental in coordinating these grassroots campaigns.

Reflecting on the broader implications of these efforts, Catina Voellinger, executive director of Ground Game Texas said earlier in July that the "Bastrop Freedom Act" will "advance racial justice and prevent the waste of scarce public resources." The organization has been pivotal in coordinating these efforts, portraying the decriminalization campaigns as both a moral imperative and a practical necessity.

As the November elections approach, these local decriminalization measures will test the waters for broader cannabis reform in Texas.

Read Next:

• GOP Attor­ney Gen­er­al In Texas Loses Legal Battle Against Towns With Decriminalized Cannabis, Insists They’re ‘Run By Pro-Crime Extremists’

Photo: El Planteo.

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