Dallas And Two Other Texas Cities Could Decriminalize Marijuana

Activists have collected enough signatures to put marijuana decriminalization on the ballot in three Texas cities, including Dallas.

If the recently circulated petitions are certified by officials in Bastrop, Dallas, and Lockhart, voters in these municipalities will decide in November whether to ban local police from arresting people for low-level marijuana possession, according to advocacy group NORM.

Last month, Ground Game Texas, announced it had delivered nearly 50,000 signatures to Dallas City Hall, enough to consider the proposal. If the proposal is approved, Dallas could be the biggest Texas city to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

“We believe we’ll have enough signatures, and we believe it will pass,” said Amy Kamp, spokesperson for Ground Game Texas. “And we believe, when it passes, that we’ll see a change in policies that really respects people, prevents them from being unfairly targeted for simple possession of marijuana and allows for public resources to be put to better use.”

Similar measures have already been approved by voters in Austin, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and San Marcos. These proposals were also placed on local ballots through petition drives by reform groups.

Other cities have rejected similar proposals. Lubbock voters rejected decriminalization in a May referendum and a similar measure failed in San Antonio in 2023.

Texas is one of just 19 states where police can still jail people for possessing small amounts of marijuana. Currently, possessing less than 2 ounces of marijuana is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. Possession of 2 to 4 ounces is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,00 fine.