The Austin City Council approved a proposal that will be placed on the May 7 ballot that would get rid of low-level marijuana enforcement and eliminate no-knock warrants.
The city council at its Jan. 18 meeting voted 7-3 to present the measure to voters. Ground Game Texas spearheaded the ballot initiative, according to KVUE.
"Thanks to the tireless efforts of the on-the-ground organizers from Ground Game Texas and partner organizations, Austin residents will soon have the ability to make lasting change to our antiquated and racist criminal justice laws," Mike Siegel said, according to KVUE. "With successful campaigns like these, Ground Game Texas will continue to empower and excite communities around progressive change – and deliver for the marginalized communities that too often get left behind."
The Austin City Clerk's Office approved a petition calling for its inclusion on the May ballot earlier this month, according to KVUE.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has taken a moderate stance on the decriminalization of marijuana, according to KXAN.
“Small possession of marijuana is not the type of violation that we want to stockpile jails with,” Abbott said, per KXAN.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick harbors a different stance on marijuana criminalization than Abbott.
“The lieutenant governor has made it pretty explicitly clear that he is not on board for lessening the state’s drug laws around marijuana," Joshua Blank with UT Austin’s Texas Politics Project said, according to KXAN. “But I think like any other public figure, if pressure continues to mount, especially within his own party, there’s no reason he can’t change his mind.”