Dallas Voters To Vote On Marijuana Decriminalization This November

The City Council voted 11-4 to place the “Dallas Freedom Act” on the ballot and voters are set to weigh in on marijuana decriminalization this November. This initiative, spearheaded by Ground Game Texas, follows a successful petition that gathered enough valid signatures to qualify for ballot placement.

If approved, the amendment would decriminalize possession of up to four ounces of cannabis in Dallas, the third-largest city in Texas, reported first Marijuana Moment.

The Dallas Freedom Act

The proposal directs the Dallas Police Department to cease issuing citations or making arrests for Class A or Class B misdemeanor possession offenses, except in cases involving high-priority felony investigations. Additionally, the amendment prohibits the use of city funds or personnel for testing cannabis-related substances to determine whether they meet the legal definition of marijuana under state and federal law.

It also bars police from using the smell of marijuana as probable cause for searches or seizures, with limited exceptions.

Read Also: Texas Town’s Last-Minute Cannabis Drama: Lockhart’s Decriminalization Debate Takes City Hall

At Least Decriminalize It!

Despite having gathered more than 50,000 signatures from supporters, the decision to place the measure on the ballot was met with some controversy. You need to consider that marijuana is still broadly illegal in Texas, despite the fact that most people support legalization – a far cry from decriminalization.

Opposing to decriminalization, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia and other local officials have expressed concerns that it could complicate law enforcement efforts.

However, proponents argue that the reform aligns with public opinion and would enable police to focus on more serious crimes. In fact, there are several counties in Texas that have done just that. In May 2022, Austin voted to decriminalize low-level possession, as did San Marco and Denton later in the year. El Paso has a “cite and release” policy for low-level possession offenses, meaning individuals caught with small amounts of cannabis are cited rather than arrested. And while Dallas will vote this year, Dallas county in itself has implemented a “cite and release” policy similar to that of El Paso.

With nearly 1.3 million residents, Dallas could become the latest major city in Texas to embrace marijuana reform.

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