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DALLAS — A judge on Friday ruled that the City of Dallas can implement a voter-approved proposition that decriminalizes carrying a small amount of marijuana in the city while the lawsuit against it plays out.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the City of Dallas over the measure back in November.
In a one-page decision, Judge Dale Tillery of the 134th District Court denied a motion from Paxton for a temporary injunction.
Proposition R–also referred to as the “Dallas Freedom Act”–was on the ballot during the 2024 general election, and it passed with over 66% approval.
The proposition decriminalizes possession of less than 4 ounces of cannabis and makes it the lowest enforcement priority for the Dallas Police Department.
Paxton is arguing in his lawsuit that “municipalities cannot refuse to enforce Texas drug laws concerning possession and distribution of marijuana.”
A trial date for the case has been set for Aug. 11.
This isn’t the first time Paxton has sued a city over its decriminalization measures.
Voters in Austin, Denton, San Marcos, Killen, Elgin and Harker Heights all passed similar measures back in 2022.
Paxton also sued Austin, Killeen, San Marcos, Elgin and Denton over their ordinances. The lawsuits in Austin and San Marcos were dismissed, the ones against Killeen and Denton are still pending, and the City of Elgin agreed to void the ordinance.
“}]] Dallas can implement a measure that decriminalizes carrying a small amount of marijuana in the city, while the lawsuit against it plays out. Read More
