Nearly 40,000 Houston residents have signed a petition to place the Houston Freedom Act before voters, with supporters now preparing to testify before the Houston City Council as the marijuana decriminalization and police reform measure moves closer to a potential November vote.
Ground Game Texas, the organization behind the initiative, is urging supporters to appear before the council on Tuesday as the city continues reviewing the petition signatures.
Under the Houston Freedom Act, the Houston Police Department would be required to make enforcement of low-level marijuana possession the city’s lowest police priority.
The proposal would also require officers to announce themselves and wait before entering a property while executing a search warrant, effectively prohibiting Houston police from participating in no-knock raids.
Ground Game Texas said Houston rapper Slim Thug is among those who signed the petition. Organizers say nearly 40,000 Houston residents have now signed the measure.
Supporters are being asked to testify before the Houston City Council at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, at Houston City Hall. Those wishing to testify must register by 3 p.m. Monday.
If enough petition signatures are validated, the measure could be placed before Houston voters in November.
The proposal comes as marijuana decriminalization initiatives continue to gain support in cities across Texas. Voters in several cities have approved local measures directing police to reduce or eliminate enforcement of low-level marijuana possession, although some of those policies have faced legal challenges from the state.
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