The city council for Lockhart, a Texas city with a population of around 15,000, has voted to overturn a voter-approved ordinance that would have decriminalized marijuana possession.
In November, voters in Lockhart approved an ordinance to decriminalize marijuana with 68% support. The proposal would have prevented arrests and criminal charges for possessing up to four ounces of marijuana. Instead, individuals caught with small amounts would have faced a civil infraction similar to a traffic ticket.
Yesterday, the Lockhart City Council voted to reject the marijuana ordinance, effectively preventing it from becoming law. The city council for Bastrop, Texas, made a similar move last week.
The ordinance was part of a larger decriminalization effort in Texas, with similar measures approved in multiple cities, including Lockhart and Dallas. In recent years, San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin, Denton, and Harker Heights have implemented comparable policies. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has attempted to challenge these ordinances in court, but his lawsuits have already been dismissed in two cities.
In Texas, possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a maximum fine of $2,000. Possession of 2 to 4 ounces is a Class A misdemeanor, carrying up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000. Possession of more than 4 ounces is a felony, with penalties ranging from 180 days to life in prison, depending on the amount.
