Legal use of Marijuana in Texas USA

 Is Marijuana legal in Texas USA?

Voters in many Texas cities have voted to decriminalise marijuana. However, their efforts have been met with reluctance by city governments, who insist they cannot violate state law.

LUBBOCK — An proposal to decriminalise the possession of small amounts of marijuana was stalled Tuesday when municipal leaders unanimously rejected the proposed legislation.

Instead, backers of the subject plan to seek voter approval next year.

Lubbock Compact, the local advocacy group behind the idea, spent two months gathering over 10,000 signatures from Lubbock residents, more than doubling the 4,800 required to bring the issue before the council.

Mayor Tray Payne praised the group's efforts, but claimed the proposal violates state law and is "void and unenforceable."

"I do not think it's appropriate that we try to contradict state law in this manner," Payne said in a statement. "Until and unless amendments are made by the Legislature, the city of Lubbock is curtailed by current state laws on the issue."

Texas is one of 26 states that does not allow recreational marijuana. The state also has one of the narrowest medical programmes. According to the Department of Public Safety, around 69,000 Texans have enlisted. Texas lawmakers have long refused to legalise recreational marijuana or reduce possession penalties, and local governments have mainly followed suit.

Denton, Killeen, Elgin, San Marcos, and Harker Heights voters all supported ballot proposals prohibiting arrests and penalties for carrying less than four ounces of marijuana such as OG Kush, Fruity pebbles strain and red dragon strain in most cases. However, local municipal councils have declined to implement the voter-approved rules. Bell County, which includes Killeen, has sued to prevent the move from taking effect.

Lubbock, with over 264,000 residents, would be the largest city to decriminalize marijuana through a household vote.

Supporters of the proposed ordinance are not disappointed that the council rejected their efforts. They had hoped to accomplish this all along. During the public remarks, Adam Hernandez, Lubbock Compact's communications chair, urged the council to leave it to a vote.

He stated that the matter is far too significant to be left to seven people.

"It's not fair to either side — the council or the citizens — so our position was that it should go to a vote," Hernandez told the Tribune after the meeting. "We just needed them to vote it down so it would be put on the ballot."

She said, "That's what they chose to do, not necessarily for those reasons, but we're good with that."