As Houston gears up to vote on a decriminalization ballot measure this November, new numbers from Houston Public Media show misdemeanor arrests have jumped from an average of about 35 a year to roughly 440 a year, a nearly 1,200% increase. The ballot measure backed by Ground Game Texas, gathered 40,000 signatures and gained city council approval to appear on the ballot. If approved by voters it would make low level marijuana possession the lowest enforcement priority. This local enforcement issue comes as cannabis policy has emerged as a major point of contrast in this year’s Lt. Governor’s race, and a growing number of other candidates statewide have staked out positions of their own.
Many of the Democratic, Libertarian and Green Party candidates running for seats in Texas have made clear public statements or have official campaign priorities supporting cannabis law reform. Notably, GOP candidates have not made any public comments on THC legality in Texas, instead presumably, letting their legislative voting records and previous regulatory actions speak for themselves. Vikki Goodwin has become the most vocal candidate making cannabis & THC an official priority of her campaign. James Talarico, Gina Hinojosa, Nathan Johnson and Clayton Tucker are all in support of a regulated hemp program in Texas and adults having legal access to THC products. Libertarian candidate for Lt. Governor Anthony Cristo’s campaign states clearly “It’s time to legalize marijuana in Texas” and Pat Dixon the Libertarian candidate for governor includes a policy statement about “the War on Hemp in Texas” applauding Abbott for vetoing SB3 and stating “adults should be free to make their own choices.”
Read more
- The GOP’s Weed Crackdown Is Blowing Up in Its Face
- Republicans are turning against legal marijuana
- Talarico bets on hemp to win over Texas swing voters
- GinaForTexas
- FBI: 60 Percent of All Marijuana Arrests Nationwide Occurred in These Ten States
- Exclusive: Misdemeanor marijuana arrests soar under Houston Mayor Whitmire by nearly 1,200%
- Houston voters to consider deprioritized enforcement of cannabis laws, ban on no-knock warrants
See also: Get Registered, Get Ready to Vote