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LUBBOCK GROUP PUSHES FORWARD WITH MARIJUANA BALLOT QUESTION DESPITE PAXTON
LAWSUIT



The Texas attorney general has sued five other cities that have passed similar
policies decriminalizing marijuana.

by Jayme Lozano Carver
Feb. 8, 202416 hours ago

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Last September, Nathan Lewis gathered signatures on a petition to decriminalize
marijuana from Andrew Alcala, center, and Yvette Castillo, right, in Lubbock.
Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune

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up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

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LUBBOCK — An effort to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana in
Lubbock is moving forward, despite Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton suing five
cities this week for doing the same.

Lubbock Compact, the organization behind the proposed initiative, said Paxton’s
decision to sue Austin, San Marcos, Killeen, Denton, and Elgin for
decriminalizing marijuana goes against what those voters have shown they want.

“This was actually on the ballot. People came out and made their voices heard,”
said Adam Hernandez, communications chair for Lubbock Compact. “It’s extremely
authoritarian.”

Texas lawmakers have long resisted calls to legalize recreational marijuana, and
medical use is highly restrictive. This is why some cities have sought to at
least decriminalize possession of small amounts. Voters overwhelmingly passed
the ordinances, with 70-85% in favor in all five cities.

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Lubbock residents have been working to join that trend over the last few months.
Lubbock Compact circulated a petition and collected more than 10,000 signatures
to get the proposal in front of the city council, which rejected the ordinance.
Mayor Tray Payne previously said it contradicts state law.

In light of Paxton’s lawsuit, Hernandez said Lubbock Compact’s plans have not
changed and hopes other cities also pursue decriminalization.

“It’s about showing state leadership where people’s sentiment is in a very real
way,” Hernandez said. “One would hope they see voters showing up by the tens of
thousands, and know that’s not a small thing.”

Hernandez added, “All we’re trying to do is keep people out of jail for personal
marijuana use. We’re not even trying to fully legalize it.”



In a statement announcing the lawsuit, Paxton said the five municipalities
adopted policies that went against state law and violated the Texas
Constitution.

“This unconstitutional action by municipalities demonstrates why Texas must have
a law to ‘follow the law.’ It’s quite simple: the legislature passes every law
after a full debate on the issues, and we don’t allow cities the ability to
create anarchy by picking and choosing the laws they enforce,” Paxton said.

His office did not respond to a request from The Texas Tribune for comment
regarding Lubbock’s upcoming election.

Lubbock residents will vote on the matter in May.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHORS


JAYME LOZANO CARVER

REPORTER/SOUTH PLAINS AND PANHANDLE

jayme.lozano@texastribune.org

@jayme_lozano

Learn about The Texas Tribune’s policies, including our partnership with The
Trust Project to increase transparency in news.


EXPLORE RELATED STORY TOPICS

Criminal justice High Plains Ken Paxton Marijuana


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