Texas AG suing Dallas over marijuana ballot measure

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced his lawsuit Thursday against the city of Dallas over a new marijuana ballot measure, arguing it violates state law.

The measure prevents law enforcement from making arrests or issuing citations for marijuana possession or considering the odor of marijuana as probable cause for search or seizure.

Paxton argued the charter amendment, Proposition R, would prohibit police from enforcing Texas law. 

“Cities cannot pick and choose which State laws they follow. The City of Dallas has no authority to override Texas drug laws or prohibit the police from enforcing them,” Paxton said in a statement. 

“This is a backdoor attempt to violate the Texas Constitution, and any city that tries to constrain police in this fashion will be met swiftly with a lawsuit by my office.”

Ground Game Texas, an advocacy organization that promoted the proposition, argued it would help "keep people out of jail for marijuana possession," "reduce racially biased policing" and "save millions in public funding."

Since January 2024, Paxton has filed five lawsuits against cities for adopting “illegal marijuana decriminalization policies that promote crime, drug abuse, and violence.”