Dallas Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Decriminalization of Small Amounts of Marijuana
In a decisive victory, Dallas voters have approved the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana, with around 65% of the vote in favor of the measure. Proposition R, if officially passed, will amend the city charter to prevent police from arresting or citing individuals for possessing up to four ounces of cannabis, except in cases involving felony investigations tied to violence or narcotics.
The measure also prohibits officers from using the smell of cannabis as probable cause for searches or seizures and restricts city funds and resources from being used to test cannabis-related substances to determine if they meet the legal definition of cannabis.
According to election data from the Dallas County elections office, around 149,500 people voted in favor of decriminalization, while approximately 81,200 voted against it. This marks a significant shift for the city, which was one of the largest in the US without decriminalized cannabis possession.
Dallas joins a growing list of cities that have taken steps to decriminalize or legalize marijuana, with six of the top 10 US cities having already done so. The remaining four cities, including Philadelphia, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas, have not, with three of these located in Texas.
