DALLAS — One of the four petition-driven amendments would decriminalize larger amounts of marijuana in Dallas.
Also dubbed the “Dallas Freedom Act” by supporters, the ballot proposition was spearheaded by a self-described progressive group called Ground Game Texas.
Early vote totals showed a majority of voters supporting Proposition R thus far.
Proposition R would ban the Dallas Police Department from making arrests or issuing citations for people with four ounces or less of marijuana except as part of larger felony investigations. It would also prohibit the smell of marijuana being used as probable cause for searches or seizures.
Possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days imprisonment and a fie up to $2,000.
Possession of between 2 and 4 ounces of marijuana is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine up to $4,000.
Ground Game Texas Field director Natalie Marquez has called the proposition “a step toward broader social justice, smarter use of public resources and protecting civil liberties in Dallas.” Ground Game Texas also shared that the initiative received high-profile support from the likes of Willie Nelson.
Former Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia, though, warned that the proposition could have a negative impact on public safety.
“In my 32 years in law enforcement, in my opinion, it could lead to increased illegal sales and deterioration of quality of life in certain areas of our city,” Garcia told the city council in August.
Earlier this year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued five cities, including Denton in North Texas, over ordinances to deprioritize misdemeanor marijuana enforcement.
