Texas AG sues Dallas for decriminalizing marijuana

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a suit Thursday targeting the bluish metropolis of Dallas implicit a ballot measurement that decriminalizes marijuana.

Paxton alleges that Proposition R, which "prohibits the Dallas Police Department from making arrests oregon issuing citations for marijuana possession oregon considering the odor of marijuana arsenic probable origin for hunt oregon seizure," violates authorities law.

The lawyer wide argues successful the suit that the ballot measurement is preempted by Texas law, which criminalizes the possession and organisation of marijuana. Paxton besides claims the Texas Constitution prohibits municipalities from adopting an ordinance that conflicts with laws enacted by the authorities legislature.

MORE AMERICANS SMOKE MARIJUANA DAILY THAN DRINK ALCOHOL, STUDY CLAIMS

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks extracurricular the U.S. Supreme Court connected November 01, 2021 successful Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

"Cities cannot prime and take which State laws they follow," Paxton said successful a statement. "The City of Dallas has nary authorization to override Texas cause laws oregon prohibit the constabulary from enforcing them."

Paxton called the ballot measurement "a backdoor effort to interruption the Texas Constitution" and threatened to writer immoderate different metropolis that "tries to constrain constabulary successful this fashion." 

WHAT ARE THE TOP RISKS OF MARIJUANA USE?

A angiosperm bud of marijuana.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

The suit comes aft interim Dallas Police Department Chief Michael Igo directed Dallas constabulary officers not to enforce marijuana laws against those recovered to beryllium successful possession of little than 4 ounces. 

Ground Game Texas, a progressive nonprofit radical that campaigned successful favour of the ballot measure, argued it would assistance "keep radical retired of jailhouse for marijuana possession," "reduce racially biased policing" and "save millions successful nationalist funding." 

TEXAS AG PAXTON FILES CRIMINAL REFERRAL AGAINST DOJ FROM ‘SUSPICIOUS DONATIONS’ THROUGH DEMOCRATIC GROUP

A mature marijuana works begins to bloom nether artificial lights astatine Loving Kindness Farms successful Gardena, Calif., May 20, 2019. Paxton has sued the metropolis of Dallas implicit a ballot measurement that decriminalized possession of tiny amounts of marijuana.  (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

"It's unfortunate but not astonishing that Attorney General Ken Paxton has seemingly chosen to discarded everyone's clip and wealth by filing yet different baseless suit against marijuana decriminalization," said Catina Voellinger, enforcement manager for Ground Game Texas.

"Judges successful Travis and Hays counties person already dismissed identical lawsuits filed there. The Dallas Freedom Act was overwhelmingly approved by 67% of voters — this is ideology successful action."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Since January 2024, Paxton has filed lawsuits against 5 Texas cities that decriminalized marijuana possession, arguing these policies beforehand crime, cause maltreatment and violence.