Dallas City Hall: Photo by Hilary Schleier.
Dallas City Council member Chad West, along with the support of several colleagues, will propose a city charter amendment at the June 26 council meeting to decriminalize low levels of marijuana in the City of Dallas.
The council members’ proposal mirrors the Dallas Freedom Act petition currently in circulation with over 50,000 signatures, which would direct the Dallas Police Department (DPD) to stop issuing citations or making arrests for Class A or Class B misdemeanor marijuana possession. Several other cities across the state have already decriminalized marijuana with over 70% voter approval, including Austin, Denton, Killeen, and San Marcos.
“Voters in our city and across the country want to decriminalize marijuana,” West said. “Our already burdened police should focus their attention on serious crime, not arresting people with small amounts of marijuana. Bringing this to voters through a city council-proposed charter amendment instead of a petition will save the city time and resources.”
In 2021, at the request of Council Member Adam Bazaldua, the City Council Public Safety Committee received a briefing on the data surrounding marijuana charges, which highlighted enforcement disparities in communities of color. Members of the committee expressed concern and a desire to reduce inequitable enforcement across the city.
“Despite the positive steps taken by the city and DPD in recent years, marijuana-related arrests continue, and racial disparities persist,” Council Member Jaime Resendez stated. “Although marijuana use is comparable across racial lines, Black and Latino individuals are disproportionately arrested and punished. Decriminalization is the best way to address this disparity.”
If passed by the city council, the measure would go on the November 2024 ballot along with other proposed city charter amendments.
