On Thursday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the city of Dallas, challenging a new marijuana ballot initiative that he claims conflicts with state law. The proposed measure would prevent local law enforcement from making arrests or issuing citations for marijuana possession and would bar officers from using the smell of marijuana as a basis for search or seizure.
Paxton contends that Proposition R, which amends the city charter, effectively stops police from enforcing state drug laws. He emphasized in a statement, “Cities cannot selectively decide which state laws to enforce. Dallas has no authority to override Texas law or prevent its police force from enforcing it.”
The lawsuit against Dallas highlights tensions between local marijuana reforms and state regulations
He described the initiative as an attempt to undermine the Texas Constitution and warned that any city pursuing similar policies would face a swift legal response from his office. Ground Game Texas, the advocacy group backing the measure, argued that it would help keep individuals out of jail for marijuana possession, reduce racial disparities in policing, and save public funds.
Since January 2024, Paxton has filed five lawsuits against various cities that have enacted policies he deems to be illegal decriminalization efforts, which he claims promote crime, drug abuse, and violence.
