Dallas County District Judge Dale Tillery has denied Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request to block the enforcement of a voter-approved ordinance that decriminalizes marijuana possession in Dallas.
The ruling allows the city to continue implementing the measure, which prevents police from arresting or citing individuals for possessing small amounts of marijuana and from using its odor as probable cause for a search.
The ordinance, passed in November 2024 with strong voter support, makes marijuana possession offenses the lowest law enforcement priority in the city. It also requires quarterly reports to the City Council on any marijuana-related arrests or citations, ensuring transparency in enforcement. This move aligns Dallas with other Texas cities that have adopted similar policies despite opposition from the governor.
Paxton has aggressively challenged these local reforms, filing lawsuits against multiple cities in an effort to overturn decriminalization measures. However, courts in Austin and San Marcos have already dismissed his lawsuits, and the latest ruling in Dallas marks another legal setback for his efforts.
Supporters of the ordinance argue that reducing marijuana enforcement will prevent unnecessary arrests, particularly among Black and Hispanic communities that have historically faced disproportionate enforcement. They also contend that the measure will allow law enforcement to focus resources on more serious crimes.
While Dallas proceeds with its decriminalization policy, other Texas cities have encountered resistance. Lawmakers in Lockhart and Bastrop recently moved to overturn voter-approved decriminalization ordinances.
