Voters in Dallas, Texas have given overwhelming approval to a local initiative that will significantly change how marijuana possession and use is handled by law enforcement.
With around 64% in support, voters have passed Proposition R, a proposal by Ground Game Texas that will prevent arrests for those found with up to four ounces of marijuana. Rather than facing arrest and a criminal charge, individuals caught possessing no more than four ounces will receive a citation similar to a minor traffic ticket. The measure will take effect immediately upon certification of the election results.
Similar measure have already been approved in the cities of San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin, Denton and Harker Heights. In all five of these cities, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed lawsuits seeking to have them overturned. However, judges in Austin and San Marcos have already dismissed the lawsuits for those two cities.
Ground Game Texas (GGT), the group sponsoring these proposals, highlight several goals, including:
- Preventing jail time for low-level marijuana offenses.
- Offering protection for veterans who use marijuana for medical reasons.
- Allowing resources to be redirected to other public safety priorities.
- Reducing legal liabilities for municipalities in police misconduct cases.
GGT emphasizes the broader social impact, noting that “Dallas police issued thousands of citations and made hundreds of arrests for marijuana possession in recent years, disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic communities.” The organization aims to shift funds toward more impactful safety measures rather than marijuana enforcement.
Dallas is Texas’ third-largest city with a population of about 1.3 million.
Editor’s note: At the time of publication votes are still being counted, but based on a detailed examination of election data The Marijuana Herald is confident in saying that voters will approve Measure 29.
