Dallas Can Continue to Decriminalize Small Amounts of Marijuana, Judge Rules
A Texas judge has ruled that the city of Dallas can continue to implement a proposition that decriminalizes small amounts of marijuana, denying an attempt by Attorney General Ken Paxton to block the proposal. The decision comes after Paxton sued the city, claiming that municipalities cannot refuse to enforce state drug laws.
Proposition R, which was approved by Dallas voters in November with over 66% of the vote, decriminalizes the possession of up to four ounces of marijuana and prohibits police from using the smell of marijuana as probable cause for a search. The proposition makes Dallas the largest city in Texas to decriminalize marijuana.
Paxton has previously sued other Texas cities, including Austin and San Marcos, over similar marijuana decriminalization efforts. In both cases, judges denied his requests for injunctions.
Dallas City Council Member Adam Bazaldua, who supported Proposition R, praised the decision, stating that it will help to end the disproportionate criminalization of black and brown residents in the city. “Voters quite reasonably chose to end that injustice, and to allow law enforcement to focus on more serious issues,” Bazaldua said.
The case is set to go to trial on August 11.
