Dallas voters will have the opportunity to decide in November whether or not the city should decriminalize cannabis. The city’s council decided on Aug. 14, 2024, to add the Dallas Freedom Act to the ballot for the upcoming Nov. 5 election. Local proponents of cannabis reform are leading this effort to loosen the rules governing adult possession of marijuana.
The push for reform is led by Ground Game Texas, a nonprofit organization focused on social justice. The group gathered nearly 50,000 signatures from residents, far exceeding the 20,000-signature threshold needed to get the measure on the ballot.
The measure would forbid police from arresting or ticketing people for having less than four ounces of cannabis in their possession. Possession of two to four ounces of cannabis is currently regarded as a class A misdemeanor in Texas, which carries a maximum one-year jail sentence. Possession of less than two ounces results in a class B misdemeanor, and the punishment is up to 180 days in jail.
Other key provisions within the proposal include:
- Except for felony investigations, Dallas police would no longer be permitted to use the scent of hemp or cannabis as justification for searching or seizing property.
- Except for the restricted circumstances outlined by the proposal, police would not issue a citation for class A or B misdemeanor possession of cannabis or arrest unless instructed otherwise by an orderly ruling from a federal or state court.
- Except in cases where testing is required for public safety (such as toxicology tests) or is a component of a violent crime investigation, no cannabis product would be subjected to THC-level testing to assess if it complies with the legal definition of marijuana using city resources or people.
The city council approved the proposal for the November ballot by a vote of 11–4. Supporters of the measure, including Council Members Omar Narvaez, Adam Bazaldua, Zarin Gracey and Chad West, have voiced their backing for decriminalization. West, who first proposed the initiative in June, argued that it is a needed reform for Dallas.
On the other hand, Eddie Garcia, the chief of police in Dallas, expressed concerns, stating that the proposed changes wouldn’t benefit the community. He argued that four ounces is more than a small amount for individual use. Garcia noted that his narcotics unit found that an average illicit purchase for individual use in the city consists of two or three dime bags, which is far less than four ounces.
If Dallas voters decide to decriminalize cannabis possession, other cities may also take the same approach, which could trigger a statewide movement that eventually sees adult-use marijuana legalized. When that happens, plenty of business opportunities could be created, including for companies seeking to offer services that are similar to what companies such as Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR) are currently offering in other jurisdictions.
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