Six days after many around the country celebrated 4/20, the fight to end the War on Drugs rages on in Austin, Texas. Earlier this week, residents in the state’s capital began voting on proposition A. If approved, the city would end the enforcement of low-level cannabis offenses. Additionally, the bill could end the enforcement of no-knock warrants across the city.
Passing proposition A in Austin, Texas would be a major step forward for the decriminalization of cannabis throughout the state. In the past, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has publicly endorsed the decriminalization of misdemeanor cannabis offenses.
“One thing I don’t want to see is jails stockpiled with people who have possession of a small amount of marijuana,” Abbott stated in 2018.
“I would be open to talking to the legislature about reducing the penalty for [marijuana] possession of two ounces or less from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor.”
However, the state’s most recent attempt to decriminalize cannabis use was struck down by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and the Texas Senate. As a result, the bill never made it to Abbott’s desk.
Still, there is hope that a bipartisan effort can be made to decriminalize cannabis across the state down the line.
“Elected officials in Texas—both Democrats and Republicans—agree that we should no longer arrest people for small amounts of marijuana,” Heather Fazio of Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy told Marijuana Moment in January.
“It’s a waste of resources, it unfairly derails lives, and it’s time for the legislature to take action so law enforcement can focus on real crime.”
