--- title: Ken Paxton sues Dallas over voter-approved amendment to decriminalize marijuana description: Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Dallas for decriminalizing marijuana, arguing cities must enforce state drug laws, despite voter approval. image: https://420intel.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/A%20city%20legalizing%20marijuana%20despite%20state%20laws%2c%20leading%20to%20a%20lawsuit%20from%20the%20Attorney%20General.jpeg --- [![420intel.com](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset%2016-1.png?width=300&height=162&name=Asset%2016-1.png "420intel.com")](https://420intel.com) - [Home](https://420intel.com) - [Advertise](https://420intel.com/advertise) - [Directory](https://420intel.com/directory) - [Topics](https://420intel.com/blog) - [Recreational News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/recreational-cannabis-news) - [Business News](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-business-news) - [Politics](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-politics) - [Technology](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-technology-news) - [Research](https://420intel.com/tag/medical-cannabis-news) - [Contact](https://420intel.com/contact-us) - [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/420intel) - [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/420-intel/) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://x.com/420intel) - [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/420intel) ### Press ESC to close [![420intel.com](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset%2016-1.png?width=300&height=162&name=Asset%2016-1.png "420intel.com")](https://420intel.com) - [Home](https://420intel.com) - [Advertise](https://420intel.com/advertise) - [Directory](https://420intel.com/directory) - [Topics](https://420intel.com/blog) - [Recreational News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/recreational-cannabis-news) - [Business News](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-business-news) - [Politics](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-politics) - [Technology](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-technology-news) - [Research](https://420intel.com/tag/medical-cannabis-news) - [Contact](https://420intel.com/contact-us) - [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/420intel) - [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/420-intel/) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://x.com/420intel) - [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/420intel) # Ken Paxton sues Dallas over voter-approved amendment to decriminalize marijuana - [![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=80&height=80&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) - [Cannabis Politics](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/cannabis-politics) - 22 November 2024 **DALLAS** - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the city of Dallas after it adopted a voter-approved charter amendment that decriminalizes possessing less than 4 ounces of marijuana. About 67% of Dallas voters approved Proposition R in the November election.  At least one councilmember expressed concerns that the city woud be sued as recreational marijuana is still illegal in Texas.   The city of Dallas directed the Dallas Police Department to comply with the amendment earlier this week. In a memo sent to Dallas police officers, the interim police chief said in part, "Effective immediately, Dallas police officers will not enforce possession of marijuana, four ounces or less, or consider the odor of marijuana as probable cause for search and seizure, except as a part of a violent felony or felony narcotics arrest." Recreational marijuana is still illegal in Texas. Paxton's lawsuit says that municipalities cannot refuse to enforce Texas drug laws. "Cities cannot pick and choose which state laws they follow. The city of Dallas has no authority to override Texas drug laws or prohibit the police from enforcing them," the attorney general said. "This is a backdoor attempt to violate the Texas constitution, and any city that tries to constrain police in this fashion will be met swiftly with a lawsuit by my office." The lawsuit is far from a surprise.   [by Fox4News](https://www.fox4news.com/news/dallas-marijuana-lawsuit-ken-paxton) [Cannabis Politics](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/cannabis-politics) [Recreational Cannabis News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/recreational-cannabis-news) ![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=200&height=200&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) #### [Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) At 420 Intel, we cover cannabis legalization news throughout the world, offer reliable information for cannabis business owners, detail technological advances that impact the marijuana industry, cover marijuana rallies from across the globe, and everything in between. - - - [Recreational Cannabis News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/recreational-cannabis-news) [![Dixon cannabis dispensary high on its new flower collection launch](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20sleek%20modern%20cannabis%20dispensary%20interior%20illuminated%20by%20soft%20warm%20lighting%20Shelves%20lined%20with%20elegant%20packaging%20display%20a%20variety%20of%20cannabis%20flower%20products%20each%20labeled%20with%20vibrant%20graphics%20showcasing%20their%20strain%20names%20and%20TH-1.jpeg?width=550&height=395&name=The%20image%20depicts%20a%20sleek%20modern%20cannabis%20dispensary%20interior%20illuminated%20by%20soft%20warm%20lighting%20Shelves%20lined%20with%20elegant%20packaging%20display%20a%20variety%20of%20cannabis%20flower%20products%20each%20labeled%20with%20vibrant%20graphics%20showcasing%20their%20strain%20names%20and%20TH-1.jpeg)](https://420intel.com/blog/dixon-cannabis-dispensary-high-on-its-new-flower-collection-launch) - [![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=80&height=80&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) - 18 April 2025 #### [Dixon cannabis dispensary high on its new flower collection launch](https://420intel.com/blog/dixon-cannabis-dispensary-high-on-its-new-flower-collection-launch) [Marijuana legalization](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/marijuana-legalization) [![Caye Caulker Voters' Historic Decision on Weed](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AdobeStock_150310400.jpeg?width=550&height=395&name=AdobeStock_150310400.jpeg)](https://420intel.com/blog/caye-caulker-voters-historic-decision-on-weed) - [![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=80&height=80&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) - 10 October 2025 #### [Caye Caulker Voters' Historic Decision on Weed](https://420intel.com/blog/caye-caulker-voters-historic-decision-on-weed) In a landmark vote on October 8th, the island community of **Caye Caulker** decisively rejected a... [Cannabis Laws](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/cannabis-laws) [![Northland's ‘Gandalf’ Faces 14 Years for Cannabis Oil](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20250513_0714_image.png?width=550&height=395&name=20250513_0714_image.png)](https://420intel.com/blog/northlands-gandalf-faces-14-years-for-cannabis-oil) - [![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=80&height=80&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) - 13 May 2025 #### [Northland's ‘Gandalf’ Faces 14 Years for Cannabis Oil](https://420intel.com/blog/northlands-gandalf-faces-14-years-for-cannabis-oil) A Northland man could face 14 years imprisonment for allegedly supplying cannabis products to help... - [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/420intel) - [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/420intel) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/420intel) - [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/420intel) Back to Top ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Buzz", "url" : "https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz" }, "dateModified" : "2024-11-22T13:53:07.171Z", "datePublished" : "2024-11-22T13:53:07.000Z", "headline" : "Ken Paxton sues Dallas over voter-approved amendment to decriminalize marijuana", "image" : [ "https://420intel.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/A%20city%20legalizing%20marijuana%20despite%20state%20laws%2c%20leading%20to%20a%20lawsuit%20from%20the%20Attorney%20General.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://420intel.com/blog/ken-paxton-sues-dallas-over-voter-approved-amendment-to-decriminalize-marijuana", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://420intel.com/hubfs/Asset%2016.png" }, "name" : "420 Intel" } } ```