LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Nearly two-thirds of Lubbock voters rejected Proposition A, which would decriminalize low-level marijuana offenses.
The Lubbock city council unanimously voted against the initial proposal in November, after the group Freedom Act Lubbock gathered enough verified citizen signatures.
Council members stated they believe the proposal would contradict state law, making it unenforceable. Earlier this year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the cities of Austin, Denton, Elgin, Killeen and San Marcos for passing similar ordinances. After the council vote, supporters then requested the measure be sent to voters.
“The main goal is to keep people out of jail for this if that’s the only thing they’re doing,” Adam Hernandez with Freedom Act Lubbock told KCBD in April.
Hernandez said if they’re involved in criminal activity all bets are off. The ordinance would not limit enforcement if an offense is revealed as part of a “high priority” felony narcotics investigation or part of the investigation of a violent felony.
Terisa Clark with Project Destiny called Proposition A a threat to the Lubbock community.
“The majority of the time, it started somewhere for people with hardcore addictions. Where did it start? It started typically with marijuana,” Clark told KCBD in April.
In addition to decriminalizing low-level marijuana offenses, the ordinance would prevent LPD from considering the odor as probable cause for a search or seizure. While Freedom Act Lubbock believed this would free up resources for more serious issues such as fentanyl or gang activity, Clark disagreed.
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