{"id":59123,"date":"2022-12-08T07:17:39","date_gmt":"2022-12-08T15:17:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/12\/08\/texas-activists-collect-signatures-to-overturn-city-lawmakers-repeal-of-voter-approved-marijuana-decriminalization-ballot-initiative\/"},"modified":"2022-12-08T17:46:02","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T01:46:02","slug":"texas-activists-collect-signatures-to-overturn-city-lawmakers-repeal-of-voter-approved-marijuana-decriminalization-ballot-initiative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/12\/08\/texas-activists-collect-signatures-to-overturn-city-lawmakers-repeal-of-voter-approved-marijuana-decriminalization-ballot-initiative\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Activists Collect Signatures To Overturn City Lawmakers\u2019 Repeal Of Voter-Approved Marijuana Decriminalization Ballot Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Texas activists are collecting signatures to reverse a move by the Harker Heights City Council to overturn a voter-approved marijuana decriminalization ballot initiative. Meanwhile, lawmakers in another Texas city, Killeen, voted to enact a similar local decriminalization initiative\u2014but they removed a key provision.<\/p>\n

Harker Heights was one of five Texas cities that passed decriminalization measures with strong margins on November 8, but it\u2019s the only one so far where local lawmakers have overturned the will of voters.<\/p>\n

Ground Game Texas, the organization that led the reform initiatives throughout the state, discussed the possibility of taking action<\/a> shortly after the lawmakers passed the ordinance to repeal what voters passed on the ballot. On Tuesday, they held a press conference to detail their new effort to put cannabis back on the ballot with another referendum.<\/p>\n

\n

On Nov. 8, Harker Heights voters passed Prop A to decriminalize low-level marijuana possession with 64% support. But 2 wks later, City Council voted to REPEAL Prop A! Come by our office to sign the petition this week only \u2013 M-F, 11a-1p and 5p-7p.https:\/\/t.co\/i5kCDHLY4y<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 GroundGameTX (@GroundGameTX) December 5, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

\u201cBy voting to repeal Prop A, the Harker Heights City Council sent a clear message to their constituents that they don\u2019t respect the will of the voters or the democracy they participate in,\u201d Julie Oliver, executive director of Ground Game Texas, said<\/a> in a press release.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese antidemocratic politicians are trying to throw away the votes of more than 5,000 Harker Heights residents\u2014but we won\u2019t let them,\u201d Oliver said. \u201cWith this new referendum, Ground Game Texas will ensure the will of voters isn\u2019t trampled on by their local elected officials.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

In order to secure placement on the city\u2019s May 2023 ballot to overturn the ordinance, activists need to collect 350 valid signatures from Harker Heights residents by the end of next week.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to have a very strong showing that people don\u2019t like the vote that city council took,\u201d Oliver told<\/a> KWTX News.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a city official told the local outlet that when they receive petitions for the referendum to overturn the ordinance, they \u201cwill process the document as identified within our charter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by Ground Game Texas (@groundgametx)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

Ground Game Texas saw several success in last month\u2019s election, with decriminalization passing locally in Denton, Elgin, Killeen and San Marcos as well.<\/p>\n

But while Harker Heights is the only city of the bunch to have repealed the reform, there have been issues for advocates in other jurisdictions where voters made their choice.<\/p>\n

The Killeen City Council decided to press pause on implementing the local voter-approved decriminalization ordinance, arguing that there are legal concerns that lawmakers need to sort through before potentially giving it their approval.<\/p>\n

They lifted that pause and officially approved<\/a> the ordinance on Tuesday. But the local lawmakers amended it to remove a provision that would prohibit police from using the smell of cannabis as probable cause for a search or seizure.<\/p>\n

In Denton, local officials didn\u2019t pursue an outright repeal of the reform measure that voters approved there, but they did initially challenge key provisions, saying that the city isn\u2019t authorized to direct police to make the prescribed policy changes. However, the mayor and city manager have said that low-level cannabis offenses will continue to be treated as low law enforcement priorities.<\/p>\n

Local lawmakers in that city have since voted 6-0 to accept the results of the election.<\/p>\n

So far, the two other Texas cities that passed decriminalization measures this month\u2014Elgin and San Marcos\u2014have not raised legislative or legal objections. But advocates aren\u2019t planning to cede any of the victories.<\/p>\n

The reform measures might be new to the cities where lawmakers are raising concerns, but they\u2019re not without precedent in the Lone Star state. Austin voters, for example,\u00a0strongly approved a marijuana decriminalization measure<\/a>\u00a0this past May\u2014and it doesn\u2019t appear that the city has grappled with any major legal battles over the modest policy change.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, San Antonio, the second largest Texas city by population, could\u00a0get the chance to locally decriminalize marijuana<\/a> in May 2023 after activists announced in October that they were launching a signature drive for ballot placement.<\/p>\n

While there\u2019s been a surge of local action on marijuana issues under home rule laws in Texas over recent years, statewide reform has generally stalled in the conservative legislature.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0House approved a cannabis decriminalization bill<\/a>\u00a0in 2019,\u00a0but it did not advance<\/a>\u00a0in the Senate that session Lawmakers have since been\u00a0unable to pass additional expansive cannabis bills<\/a>\u00a0in recent sessions.<\/p>\n

For his part, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said that\u00a0he doesn\u2019t believe people should be incarcerated<\/a>\u00a0over low-level marijuana possession. However, the governor incorrectly suggested that lawmakers have already adopted the policy statewide.<\/p>\n

A poll released last year found that a strong majority of Texans\u2014including most Republicans\u2014support even broader reform to legalize marijuana<\/a>\u00a0for adult use. Another survey found that 60 percent of voters in the state\u00a0support making cannabis legal \u201cfor any use\u201d<\/a>\u00a0and about nine in ten voters think marijuana should be legalized for some purpose.<\/p>\n

Additionally, a poll released in June\u00a0found that cannabis legalization is more popular in Texas<\/a>\u00a0than the state\u2019s top elected officials and President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n

House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) said in September that he will work to\u00a0enact criminal justice reform in the 2023 session<\/a>, and he again expressed support for lowering penalties for marijuana possession.<\/p>\n

\u2014
\nMarijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nLearn more about our marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.
\n\u2014<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Former U.S. Rep. Beto O\u2019Rourke (D), who was the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in Texas this year,\u00a0has long advocated for an end to marijuana prohibition<\/a>\u00a0and included the reform as a tenet of his campaign.\u00a0But he ultimately lost the race to Abbott.<\/p>\n

There were some drug policy reforms that did advance in the legislature during last year\u2019s session, but not necessarily at the pace that advocates had hoped to see.<\/p>\n

A bill to\u00a0expand the state\u2019s medical cannabis program<\/a>\u00a0and another to require a study into\u00a0the therapeutic potential of certain psychedelics<\/a>\u00a0for military veterans were enacted.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Texas Republican Party adopted a platform plank<\/a>\u00a0endorsing decriminalization of marijuana possession in 2018, but that was later rescinded.<\/p>\n

Separately, the state Supreme Court\u00a0heard testimony in March<\/a>\u00a0in a case concerning the state\u2019s ban on manufacturing smokable hemp products\u2014the latest development in a drawn-out legal battle on the policy first proposed and challenged in 2020.<\/p>\n

In San Antonio, activists will need to collect at least 20,000 valid signatures from registered voters by early January to qualify for the May 2023 ballot. The groups said they plan to submit a minimum of 35,000 signatures.<\/p>\n

\n

Biden Applauds Another State For Clearing Marijuana Records Following His Presidential Pardons<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.<\/em><\/p>\n

The post Texas Activists Collect Signatures To Overturn City Lawmakers\u2019 Repeal Of Voter-Approved Marijuana Decriminalization Ballot Initiative<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n


\n
\nRead More: Texas Activists Collect Signatures To Overturn City Lawmakers\u2019 Repeal Of Voter-Approved Marijuana Decriminalization Ballot Initiative<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Texas activists are collecting signatures to reverse a move by the Harker Heights City Council to overturn a voter-approved marijuana decriminalization ballot initiative. Meanwhile, lawmakers in another Texas city, Killeen, voted to enact a similar local decriminalization initiative\u2014but they removed a key provision. Harker Heights was one of five TexasContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":59124,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59123"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59123"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59123\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59125,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59123\/revisions\/59125"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}