Dallas voters will vote to decriminalize Marijuana in November with 'Dallas Freedom Act'
Dallas residents will have a say in November if weed can be decriminalized in the city.
The Dallas City Council voted on Aug. 14 to place a marijuana decriminalization proposal on the ballot for the upcoming November election. This measure, known as the Dallas Freedom Act, is part of an effort by Texas cannabis advocates to reform local cannabis policies. If passed, it would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults.
Nonprofit social justice advocacy group Ground Game Texas started the petition to decriminalize weed. They submitted petitions with nearly 50,000 signatures from Dallas residents. A minimum of 20,000 signatures was required to be considered for the ballot.
Here is what the Dallas Freedom Act is proposing.
What is the Dallas Freedom Act?
The petition for the “Dallas Freedom Act” proposes that police stop writing tickets or making arrests for less than four ounces of marijuana. Currently, possessing two to four ounces is a class A misdemeanor that can carry a one-year jail term, and holding under two ounces is a class B misdemeanor that can hold a 180-day sentence.
Other notices in the proposal include:
- Dallas police shall not consider the odor of marijuana or hemp to constitute probable cause for any search or seizure, except in the limited circumstances of a police investigation pursuant to subsection.
- Unless and until a binding act of a state or federal court requires otherwise, the Dallas Police Department shall not make any arrest or issue any citation for Class A or Class B misdemeanor marijuana possession, except in the limited cases described by this policy.
- No city funds or personnel shall be used to request, conduct, or obtain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) testing of any cannabis-related substance to determine whether the substance meets the legal definition of marijuana under state or federal law, except (a) for purposes of toxicology testing to ensure public safety or (b) the investigation of a violent felony offense.
How close was the Dallas City Council vote for the Dallas Freedom Act?
Dallas City Council approved placing the Dallas Freedom Act on the November general election ballot by an 11-4 margin.
According to The Dallas Morning News, councilmembers Adam Bazaldua, Chad West, Zarin Gracey, and Omar Narvaez expressed their support for the marijuana decriminalization measure. West, who introduced the measure in June, said it was a necessary change for the city.
"Established data shows that our current antiquated, prohibition-era marijuana laws have a disproportionate impact on Black and brown people,” he said.
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia informed elected officials that abandoning the current marijuana policy would not be in the city's best interest.
"In my opinion four ounces is not a small amount, or for personal use,” Garcia said in a KERA article. “Per my narcotics unit, the typical illegal purchase for personal use, from a drug dealer in the city of Dallas…is about two to three dime bags.”
