Activists in Lockhart, Texas have turned in what they say are more than enough signatures to qualify a marijuana decriminalization initiative for the local ballot this November.
Elle Cross, campaign director for Mano Amiga’s Lockhart campaign, said at a press conference on Wednesday that advocates are submitting more than 900 signatures for the cannabis decriminalization proposal with the city secretary’s office. That’s roughly double the required petitions to qualify for ballot placement.
This comes weeks after voters in Lubbock rejected a separate cannabis reform initiative, which followed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) filing lawsuits against five other Texas cities with voter-approved decriminalization laws.
Lockhart Commissioner Dyral Thomas said the local reform proposal would take a “small step on a better path” for the community, noting racial disparities in cannabis criminalization and the benefits of freeing up law enforcement resources to address more serious crimes.
The purpose section of the initiative similarly says that the objective of decriminalization is “carefully allocating scarce city resources, reducing the risk of discriminatory enforcement practices, and focusing city resources on the highest priority public safety concerns.”
“Unless and until a binding act of a state or federal court requires otherwise, the Lockhart
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