Austin’s Marijuana Decriminalization Ordinance Ruled Unlawful by Texas Appellate Court
In a recent decision, a Texas appellate court has overturned a Travis County judge’s ruling to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against the city of Austin. The lawsuit challenged the city’s marijuana decriminalization ordinance, which was implemented to reduce the penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana.
The appellate court’s ruling means that the ordinance is now deemed unlawful, potentially paving the way for further legal action against the city. The decision comes after the city of Austin had argued that the ordinance was a necessary step to address the issue of marijuana possession and reduce the burden on the criminal justice system.
The lawsuit was filed by Attorney General Paxton, who claimed that the ordinance was an overreach of the city’s authority and conflicted with state law. The city of Austin had argued that the ordinance was necessary to address the issue of marijuana possession and reduce the burden on the criminal justice system.
The decision is likely to have significant implications for the city of Austin and its residents, who had been hoping to avoid the legal challenges and potential consequences associated with the ordinance. The city may now be required to reconsider its approach to marijuana possession and potentially revise its ordinance to comply with state law.
