Texas Legal professional Normal Ken Paxton introduced a lawsuit Thursday focusing on the blue metropolis of Dallas over a poll measure that decriminalizes marijuana.
Paxton alleges that Proposition R, which “prohibits the Dallas Police Division from making arrests or issuing citations for marijuana possession or contemplating the odor of marijuana as possible trigger for search or seizure,” violates state regulation.
The lawyer normal argues within the lawsuit that the poll measure is preempted by Texas regulation, which criminalizes the possession and distribution of marijuana. Paxton additionally claims the Texas Structure prohibits municipalities from adopting an ordinance that conflicts with legal guidelines enacted by the state legislature.
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Texas Legal professional Normal Ken Paxton speaks exterior the U.S. Supreme Courtroom on November 01, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Pictures)
“Cities can’t choose and select which State legal guidelines they comply with,” Paxton stated in an announcement. “The Metropolis of Dallas has no authority to override Texas drug legal guidelines or prohibit the police from imposing them.”
Paxton referred to as the poll measure “a backdoor try to violate the Texas Structure” and threatened to sue every other metropolis that “tries to constrain police on this vogue.”Â
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A flower bud of marijuana. (AP Photograph/Sakchai Lalit, File)
The lawsuit comes after interim Dallas Police Division Chief Michael Igo directed Dallas law enforcement officials to not implement marijuana legal guidelines in opposition to these discovered to be in possession of lower than 4 ounces.Â
Floor Recreation Texas, a progressive nonprofit group that campaigned in favor of the poll measure, argued it could assist “hold individuals out of jail for marijuana possession,” “cut back racially biased policing” and “save tens of millions in public funding.”Â
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A mature marijuana plant begins to bloom underneath synthetic lights at Loving Kindness Farms in Gardena, Calif., Might 20, 2019. Paxton has sued the town of Dallas over a poll measure that decriminalized possession of small quantities of marijuana. (AP Photograph/Richard Vogel)
“It is unlucky however not stunning that Legal professional Normal Ken Paxton has apparently chosen to waste everybody’s money and time by submitting one more baseless lawsuit in opposition to marijuana decriminalization,” stated Catina Voellinger, government director for Floor Recreation Texas.
“Judges in Travis and Hays counties have already dismissed similar lawsuits filed there. The Dallas Freedom Act was overwhelmingly authorized by 67% of voters — that is democracy in motion.”
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Since January 2024, Paxton has filed lawsuits in opposition to 5 Texas cities that decriminalized marijuana possession, arguing these insurance policies promote crime, drug abuse and violence.Â
