Dallas votes to decriminalize 4 oz. of marijuana
DALLAS - Dallas voters have decided to decriminalize less than 4 ounces of marijuana.
Proposition R amends the city charter to decriminalize the drug, making it the lowest enforcement priority for the Dallas Police Department.
FILE - Marijuana plant. (Brad Horrigan/Hartford Courant/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
The proposition passed with about 67% of the vote.
Former Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia warned against the idea.
He told Dallas City Council members that 4 ounces of marijuana is the amount used by drug dealers and pushed back on the idea that criminal enforcement is unfair and heavy-handed.
The Dallas police chief is against decriminalizing 4 ounces of marijuana. Here's why.
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said it is Dallas' most vulnerable neighborhoods that would be hurt if the proposition to decriminalize 4 ounces of marijuana is approved. "In my opinion, 4 ounces is not small or for personal use."
"In my opinion, 4 ounces is not small or for personal use," Garcia said in August while holding up a gallon-sized plastic bag.
The city council was required by law to put the proposition on the ballot due to the number of signatures submitted with Dallas Action’s so-called Dallas Freedom Act petition.
Petition to decriminalize marijuana possession in Dallas seeks 20K signatures
If passed, the "Dallas Freedom Act" would also prohibit the city from allocating any budgeted resources for THC concentration tests. The act has support from the Dallas Democratic Party and at least one local justice of the peace.
"Our jail is full of people arrested for misdemeanor arrests," Changa Higgins with Dallas Action said in January. "And when you look at misdemeanor possession of marijuana, it's no different."
The coalition has had similar successful marijuana reform campaigns in Texas cities like Austin, San Marcos, Killeen, and Denton.
But, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued cities like Denton and Austin over similar measures, saying they are in violation of Texas law.
Dallas may now be in for a legal fight.
More Dallas Propositions
Proposition C - Failed
Dallas voters rejected Prop C with about 58% of the vote. The proposal would have given the Dallas mayor and city council pay raises. It would have gone into effect starting in January and allowed for yearly adjustments.
Proposition S - Approved
About 55% of Dallas voters approved Prop S. It allows residents to sue the city if it does not comply with its own charter, local ordinances, or state law.
Dallas HERO Amendments: Props S, U passed
Two propositions were approved in Dallas - one that allows Dallas residents to sue the city and one that requires the city to hire 900 more police officers.
Proposition T - Failed
About 55% of voters were against Prop T. It would have linked a community satisfaction survey to the city manager's salary and job security.
Proposition U - Approved
Prop U requires 50% of all new city revenue to go to the police and fire pension fund, which is currently underwater. IT also requires a minimum of 4,000 police officers. That's 900 more than the current force.
The former Dallas police chief worried it could take up to 15 years to hire that many additional officers.
A little more than 50% of voters are in favor with just mail-in ballots left to count.