Voter-Approved Cannabis Depenalization Ordinance Stopped by Dallas, Texas Officials

Dallas, Texas officials have prevented a voter-approved cannabis depenalization ordinance which would limit local police from being able to arrest individuals for low-level cannabis possession.

In November 2024, Dallas, Texas, voters approved an ordinance called the Dallas Freedom Act (1). This measure would restrict local police’s ability to arrest individuals for low-level cannabis possession. On the November ballot, the ordinance received 67% of approval from Dallas voters.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed several lawsuits in February 2024 (2) against municipalities that have failed to “fully enforce laws related to drugs,” (1). According to NORML, Harker Heights, Bastrop, Denton, and Lockhart officials have declined imposing their local laws (1). In May 2025, Denton had to change their stance due to the Denton City Council voting 4-3 to repeal a low-level cannabis decriminalization ordinance that was approved by more than 32,000 voters in November 2022 (3). Paxton’s attacks on these cities have been due to his claim that ordinances like the one in Denton (3) “violate the state constitution and Local Government Code, which requires municipalities to enforce state drug laws.”

Sponsored legislation is being supported by state lawmakers to prevent voters from having input on future cannabis depenalization ordinances (1). NORML reported that it was approved in the Senate but hasn’t seen much push in the House…

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