Dallas, TX — City officials in Dallas have agreed to temporarily halt enforcement of the city’s voter-approved cannabis decriminalization amendment following legal threats from the Texas Attorney General’s office, according to a report by FOX 4.
The amendment, passed by 67% of Dallas voters in November 2023, aimed to reform local cannabis enforcement policies. Dallas is one of at least eight Texas cities to pass similar local decriminalization measures in recent years—including Austin, Killeen, and San Marcos—despite cannabis remaining illegal under Texas state law.
The pause comes as state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) continues to pursue legal action against cities that have enacted local policies deemed to conflict with state regulations. Paxton has sued multiple municipalities, including Dallas, arguing that cities lack the authority to override state drug laws.
Dallas officials agreed to hold enforcement of the measure after a Texas appeals court last month overturned a similar local law passed in Austin. In light of that ruling, the city has paused implementation while legal challenges are resolved.
“The city can argue that it does have a right to pass the law as it did,” former Dallas County Assistant District Attorney Russell Wilson told FOX 4. “But it just means in the meantime, until that issue is argued, the city couldn’t begin immediately enforcing the law.”
The dispute now appears headed for the Texas Supreme Court, where a final decision could impact decriminalization efforts statewide. In the meantime, enforcement of low-level cannabis offenses in Dallas will continue under existing state law.
While most of the eight cities that passed local reforms have moved forward with implementation, others—like Denton—have reversed course. Meanwhile, voters in San Antonio and Lubbock have rejected decriminalization proposals.
Despite the pause, advocates say the strong support from Dallas voters sends a clear message about public sentiment in the city and across Texas.
