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Country music icon and Texas native Willie Nelson last week endorsed a Dallas ballot measure to decriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis, saying that it is “long past time to end the criminalization of weed.” Nelson’s comments came in a statement supporting Proposition R, a Dallas ballot initiative to decriminalize marijuana that will appear on the November general election ballot. The proposal is backed by Ground Game Texas, a nonprofit social justice advocacy group that has sponsored similar cannabis policy reform efforts in other cities across the state.
“Marijuana is an herb and a flower, not a crime,” Nelson said in a statement from the group, according to a report from the Dallas Observer. “Proposition R in Dallas is about fairness and freedom. It’s long past time to end the criminalization of weed in Texas, and I’m proud to support Ground Game Texas in their efforts. Vote for Prop R and let’s move forward together.”
Nelson, an avowed supporter of the movement to end the prohibition on pot, was first arrested for possessing weed in Dallas in 1974. Since then, he has faced numerous additional arrests for breaking Texas’ strict pot laws, including a 2006 arrest that caused him to miss the funeral of former Gov. Ann Richards. In 2010, Nelson founded the Teapot Party based on the platform “tax it, regulate it, and legalize it.”
200,000 Texas Weed Arrests In Six Years
Catina Voellinger, executive director of Ground Game Texas, noted that Nelson is just one of many state residents who have faced criminal prosecution for possessing weed. According to FBI arrest data cited by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Texas law enforcement agencies logged nearly 200,000 arrests for cannabis possession during the six years from 2018 to 2023.
“We are honored to have Willie Nelson’s support for the Dallas Freedom Act. Like far too many Texans, Willie knows firsthand how much a weed possession charge can disrupt a life,” Voellinger said in a statement from the campaign. “We’re grateful for his years of advocacy for common sense reform and we look forward to continuing this work across Texas.”
If passed, the Dallas Freedom Act would decriminalize possession of less than four ounces of cannabis by adults aged 21 and older. The ballot measure also requires the chief of police and the city manager to submit quarterly reports on the decriminalization of cannabis to the city council, including information on any arrests or citations issued for marijuana possession. In August, the Dallas City Council voted to add the proposal to the ballot after activists submitted petitions signed by nearly 50,000 city voters.
“The Dallas Freedom Act is about more than just marijuana — it’s a step toward broader social justice, smarter use of public resources, and protecting civil liberties in Dallas,” Ground Game field director Natalie Marquez said in an August 15 statement from the group. “This campaign is for the grandmothers who signed the petition to make sure their grandchildren never have a bad interaction with the law. It’s for veterans who want to combat their PTSD with cannabis but are afraid of getting into legal trouble. This campaign is dedicated to everyone who has lost years of their lives being locked up for a joint and to ensure that no one else has to endure the same injustice.”
“}]] Country music icon Willie Nelson is calling on Dallas voters to approve Proposition R, a city ballot measure to decriminalize marijuana. Read More