Texas Attorney General Sues Cities Over Cannabis Decriminalization Initiatives

LOS ANGELES- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated legal action against five cities within the state, challenging their adoption of voter-approved cannabis decriminalization policies. According to reports from The Hill, the lawsuit targets city officials in Austin, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and San Marcos, accusing them of implementing policies that allegedly contravene both Texas laws and the state constitution.

The core of Paxton’s argument hinges on the assertion that these municipalities have enacted amnesty and non-prosecution policies for cannabis possession and distribution that directly conflict with state regulations. The lawsuit emphasizes that such local initiatives, despite being the result of successful voter referendums, violate the constitutional mandate that prevents cities from adopting ordinances that undermine state law.

In a statement, Attorney General Paxton expressed his determination to confront what he perceives as a deliberate disregard for Texas law, framing the issue as a broader battle against the promotion of illicit drug use and the potential for municipal anarchy. He articulated a vision of legal uniformity, where the laws enacted by the state legislature, following extensive deliberation, are uniformly applied across Texas, without exception for individual cities.

This legal challenge comes in the wake of similar decriminalization efforts across Texas. Notably, voters in Harker Heights also passed a decriminalization initiative during the recent midterm elections, only for it to be repealed by the city council subsequently. Meanwhile, Lubbock city council’s rejection of a decriminalization proposal has set the stage for the issue to be decided directly by voters later in the year.

Paxton’s lawsuit represents a significant clash between state and local governance, particularly in the context of shifting public sentiment towards cannabis policy reform. As this legal battle unfolds, it underscores the broader national debate over cannabis decriminalization and the tension between state authority and local autonomy.