Marijuana Activists In Lockhart, Texas Collect Enough Signatures To Place Cannabis Decriminalization Measure On Ballot

Cannabis activists in Lockhart have collected enough signatures to support the Lockhart Freedom Act that would decriminalize low-level cannabis possession. More than 900 signatures were submitted to City Hall Wednesday with the goal of getting the proposal on the November ballot, reported Fox 7 News.

“This is not just a matter of personal preference or ideology,” said Venessa Gutierrez, vice chair of the Caldwell County Democratic Party. “It’s about acknowledging the realities of our society and implementing policies that reflect both compassion and pragmatism.”

The two organizations Ground Game Texas and Mano Amiga leading the decriminalization effort have been successful with similar proposals in San Marcos and Austin two years ago. Catina Voellinger, executive director of Ground Game Texas said that people are usually unaware of how much power they have in their own cities.

The news comes several weeks after the residents of Lubbock, West Texas' largest city with 264,000 residents, rejected a measure to decriminalize low-level marijuana offenses. Prior to this vote, Governor Greg Abbott (R) criticized the effort saying it is not the way to make a change, but instead, people should reach out to lawmakers.

"Local communities such as towns, cities, and counties, they don't have the authority to override state law," Abbott said at the time, and he previously agreed that marijuana possession alone shouldn't put anyone behind bars.

To complicate matters in The Lone Star State, in January, State Attorney General Ken Paxton sued five Texas cities for passing these types of policies.

“The legislature passes every law after a full debate on the issues, and we don't allow cities the ability to create anarchy by picking and choosing the laws they enforce,” a statement from the attorney general said in part.

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Decriminalization Support Growing

In spite of all these challenges, the Lockhart activists remained determined to fight for what they believe in. This comes as no surprise considering a recent poll that revealed the vast majority of Texans, including a plurality of Republicans, support legalization or decriminalization of cannabis. Sixty percent of Texans said they supported full legalization, a 14-point rise since 2015.

In order to get the proposition on the ballot, activists need to collect signatures from 10% of qualified voters, according to the city charter. Once the signatures are certified, Lockhart City Council members can decide to either adopt the proposition immediately or send it to the November ballot.

“Marijuana prohibition is one of America’s most tragically failed social policies,” said Elle Cross, campaign director for Mano Amiga Responsible Implementation. “I have met far too many people whose lives have been completely turned over because of a marijuana arrest when they were hurting no one and just enjoying something that is legal in most of America and has been proven to have medicinal benefits.”

Hemp Efforts

Meanwhile, the Texas Hemp Business Council (THBC), a non-profit trade association focused on protecting hemp-derived products confirmed its members will join other activists at the Texas Capitol on May 29 to present the case for keeping delta-8 and delta-9 THC products legal in Texas.

"Any bans or excessive legislation of hemp-derived cannabinoids as suggested by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and others will negatively impact an industry that has an $8 billion economic impact, pays $1.6 billion in annual wages, and supports more than 50,000 workers," stated CEO and co-founder of Hometown Hero, THBC's founding member who will be among those delivering testimony to the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs. "Millions of Americans, including an ever-growing number of veterans, many of whom live here in our home state, choose these products as part of their daily lifestyles, while others may rely on them as alternatives to marijuana, opioids, and other pharmaceuticals."

See Also: As Federal Marijuana Reclassification Is Poised To Take Effect, These States Focus On Cannabis Reform

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