DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News ) – Dallas voters overwhelmingly approved a proposition that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. However, its recreational use is still illegal in Texas.
Proposition “R” or the “Dallas Freedom Act” is a petition-driven amendment and was spearheaded by Ground Game Texas and was met with fierce support as well as backlash.
“Dallas Action” founder Changa Higgins broke down the details of the ordinance.
“It would stop the arrest of people for simple possession, that’s Class A and Class B marijuana possession, four ounces or less. It would also limit the ability for police to target people for marijuana smells,” he said.
There would be exceptions if the arrest or citation was part of a larger felony investigation.
Those who get convicted of the Class A misdemeanor marijuana possession face up to a year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine.
Anyone convicted of a Class B misdemeanor marijuana possession faces up to 180 days in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.
Higgins argued numbers from the Dallas County District Attorneys Office show these types of cases aren’t often prosecuted after the arrest.
“If you look at Dallas County in 2021, there were 2400 misdemeanor marijuana cases in the DA’s office and the DA rejected 2,005 of them,” he said.
Despite the support, there are detractors to this measure. In August, former Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia told city council the proposition could have a negative impact on public safety.
Earlier this year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued five cities including Denton over similar ordinances.
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