Local officials in Houston, Texas have voted to place an initiative to make misdemeanor marijuana possession the “lowest possible enforcement priority” for local police on the November ballot.
The City Council on Wednesday advanced the measure to voters for their consideration after activists with Ground Game Texas have submitted nearly 40,000 signatures in support of the Houston Freedom Act, which would also ban no-knock warrants in the city.
The cannabis initiative says that its purpose is to “carefully allocating scarce city resources, reducing the risk of discriminatory enforcement practices, and focusing city resources on the highest priority public safety concerns.”
“The City shall update its annual budget, police department manual, and relevant policies and procedures to ensure that public safety resources are not wasted on misdemeanor marijuana enforcement, and are instead targeted at other programs that best promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the people of Houston,” it says.
The measure says the city should support diversion options such as referrals to treatment or participation in community service programs as an alternative to arrest for people accused of Class A or Class B misdemeanor marijuana possession.
Officers will still be allowed to seize any substance that they have
Read full article on Marijuana Moment
