Dallas Voters Set to Decide on Cannabis Decriminalization
In a big win for cannabis reform, Dallas officials just gave the green light to a measure that could make low-level cannabis possession the city’s “lowest enforcement priority.” Come November, voters will get the chance to weigh in, and if they say yes, it could be a game-changer— allowing people to possess up to 4 ounces of cannabis within city limits.
The Road to Reform
While decriminalization in Dallas wouldn’t legalize cannabis statewide and make it available for sale through a state-run recreational marijuana program, it would put it at an enforcement priority somewhere around jaywalking. That said, you could use it in your private homes, as long as they were located within Dallas city limits. It would also most likely foster a gift economy like the one you see in Washington DC, as you can still get into trouble for buying or selling cannabis directly.
But for those outside of Dallas, things are still moving in the right direction. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp, Texas has seen a massive influx of hemp products— everything from edibles to smokable hemp—that are technically legal as long as they contain less than 0.3% delta-9 THC.
The catch? Many of these products contain THCa, which converts to THC when heated. So, while they might pass the legal test in their raw form, they can deliver the same effects as traditional marijuana once consumed.
This loophole has led to a booming market across the state, with hemp dispensaries and smoke shops offering products that, for all intents and purposes, are pretty much what you’d find in states with full legalization.
Even though Texas still has some of the strictest cannabis laws on the books (where possession can lead to misdemeanor charges), the reality is that cannabis is already kind of legal in Texas. Voters just want people to stop getting in trouble for it, and for the police departments to allocate their funds to more important matters.
The upcoming vote in Dallas could make that more official, at least on the enforcement side, for people in the city. Ground Game Texas, which led the effort to get decriminalization on the ballot this year, collected nearly 50,000 signatures from voters who agree with decriminalization efforts.
Texas’s approach to cannabis regulation has also allowed for some pretty potent products to hit the market. Take the 30mg THC edibles and RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) products—these are some of the strongest legal options currently available in the state. The 30mg limit, while still conservative compared to other states, shows how residents are becoming more and more accepting of it.
These edibles are often used by patients dealing with serious conditions like PTSD, cancer, and chronic pain, offering them much-needed relief.
Where the existing Medical Marijuana Program stands today
The Compassionate Use Program, Texas’s medical marijuana initiative, has slowly expanded over the years to include more conditions and slightly higher THC limits. However, it’s still one of the most restrictive programs in the country, and many Texans feel it’s not enough. The introduction of these 30mg THC products is a step forward, but the state itself is a bit cautious.
Regardless, recent polling indicates that a majority of Texans are on board with change—three out of five Texans, including a significant number of Republicans, support legalizing marijuana. A 2022 poll found that nearly three-quarters of Texas voters favor decriminalizing marijuana, with over half supporting broader legalization. Meanwhile, a survey from last March showed that most Texas voters believe the state’s marijuana laws should be less strict.
That said, Dallas isn’t the only Texas city considering a shift in cannabis policy. Petitions for reform have also been submitted in Bastrop and Lockhart. Meanwhile, Austin, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and San Marcos have already decriminalized cannabis in some form.
However, not all efforts have been successful— in Lubbock, a similar measure was rejected in May, and last year San Antonio rejected decriminalization in favor of proposing different legislature related to people sitting in jail over cannabis-related crimes. On the other hand, voters in Harker Heights approved the measure, but the city council ended up repealing it.
If the decriminalization measure in Dallas passes, it could set off a ripple effect across the state, encouraging other cities to follow suit and possibly pushing state lawmakers to reconsider their stance. Full legalization might still be a long way off on the horizon, but this vote is a big deal nonetheless.
