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LUBBOCK — After finishing her work on a Tuesday afternoon, Giselle Ramirez headed directly to the north side of town. Enduring scorching 97-degree heat for over three hours, she approached grocery shoppers, seeking their support in the endeavor to decriminalize marijuana.
Ramirez is currently engaged in voluntary work for Lubbock Compact, a local advocacy organization dedicated to a specific cause. The group intentionally selected the grocery store site as they have observed that the majority of marijuana-related arrests occur in the north and east regions of Lubbock, where the population consists mostly of individuals from Black and Hispanic communities.
Ramirez stated that their motivation for taking action is aimed at preventing members of their community from ending up in jail due to marijuana-related offenses. They firmly believe that nobody should be incarcerated for possessing or using marijuana, as there are more pressing issues that require attention within their city.
The recent movement to decriminalize recreational marijuana in Lubbock marks a significant milestone for cannabis advocates in Texas. Unlike its neighboring states, Texas has historically opposed the legalization of marijuana. If the proposed change is successfully implemented, Lubbock would become the largest city in Texas to decriminalize marijuana through the petition process.
Without statewide legalization for recreational use, some Texans have sought to at least decriminalize it. Residents in Denton, Killeen, Elgin, San Marcos and Harker Heights all approved ballot measures banning arrests and citations for carrying less than four ounces of marijuana in most instances. However, the local city councils have declined to put the voter-approved rules in place. And Bell County, which includes Killeen, has sued to block the change from going into effect.
The citizens of Lubbock are well acquainted with the practice of utilizing ballot initiatives to modify city regulations. In 2021, the residents of Lubbock demonstrated overwhelming support for a policy commonly referred to as a sanctuary city, which aimed to prohibit abortion within the city boundaries. However, it remains uncertain whether these same voters would endorse the implementation of a policy that decriminalizes marijuana.
Marijuana has been a point of contention in Texas. Lawmakers have gone as far as legalizing medical marijuana but have drawn the line when it comes to recreational use or lowering penalties for possession.
There have been efforts to change state law. Some bills, such as House Bill 218, a legislative push by Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, to reduce the penalty for possessing one ounce of marijuana and allow for convictions to be expunged in certain cases, was approved by the House. But the bill later died in the Senate.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has been a vocal supporter of lowering penalties for marijuana possession, arguing that the state’s jails are already overcrowded.
At a campaign event last year, Abbott said he believes “prison and jail is a place for dangerous criminals who may harm others, and small possession of marijuana is not the type of violation that we want to stockpile jails with.”
Republican voters appear split on the issue — a recent University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll shows only 33% support “less strict” laws, while 32% think the laws should be “more strict.” Overall, 51% of Texans in the same poll say the state’s marijuana laws should be less strict. The February poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8%.
In West Texas, Lubbock Compact started the Freedom Act Lubbock petition in August and has until Oct. 18 to get 4,800 signatures by registered voters, with a goal of 7,500 in case some signatures are ineligible. With just under three weeks to go, the group is nearly there with an estimated 6,000 signatures.
If the petition achieves success, the city council will be obligated to either accept the group’s proposal to decriminalize marijuana or reject it. In the event that the council chooses to reject the proposed change, which is anticipated by the Lubbock Compact leaders, the organizers of the petition will have the option to include it on the 2024 ballot, allowing the voters to make the final decision.
No comments were provided by city officials for this article.
Adam Hernandez, the communications chair for Lubbock Compact, believes that decriminalizing marijuana would be a positive advancement for the city’s population of over 260,000 individuals. The coalition, in collaboration with Ground Game Texas, a non-profit organization dedicated to mobilizing voters, has gathered data highlighting the inconsistencies in how Lubbock police handle marijuana-related offenses.
According to the report, Black residents account for 8% of Lubbock residents and Latinos make up 37% of the population. However, 29% of marijuana arrests are Black residents and 49% are Latinos.
According to the data, individuals aged 25 or younger accounted for approximately 52% of all marijuana arrests made since 2018.
The report urges the city to take action in order to address the disparities.
The report suggested that Lubbock should reassess its priorities for marijuana enforcement and adopt a fair, sensible, and unbiased approach for all residents.
Although young people of color constitute the majority of those arrested, Hernandez pointed out that a significant number of individuals in Lubbock engage in marijuana usage.
Hernandez explained that the elderly rely on it to alleviate chronic pain, veterans find relief from post-traumatic stress, and individuals undergoing chemotherapy use it to combat the effects of cancer. Its applications are vast, and if people took the time to educate themselves, they might discover that their loved ones are benefiting from it as well.
According to Hernandez, even if the ordinance is approved, it will not alter the way police handle juveniles found in possession of marijuana. However, it should result in enhanced training for law enforcement.
The effort in Lubbock to change city policy comes as state lawmakers have sought to stop cities from enacting policies they say go beyond state law. In Texas, cities with more than 5,000 people long have had the power to write their own policies. The new state law puts restrictions on some policy areas.
“If the decriminalization policy is adopted, it should be upheld, according to Charelle Lett, a legal expert affiliated with the Texas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.”
According to Lett, if the ordinance doesn’t violate any state or federal laws, and as far as I know, there are no existing restrictions on decriminalizing marijuana in Texas, then there is a strong possibility that it will be approved.
Lett voiced agreement with Hernandez, emphasizing that the decriminalization would significantly impact Black and Latino communities, who often feel disproportionately targeted by law enforcement. Additionally, it would give a voice to those who have long been unheard by city authorities.
Lett expressed that often individuals in positions of power tend to overlook the importance of listening to the very community they claim to serve. According to Lett, nobody understands the needs of a community better than the community members themselves.
Since the initiation of the petition, Lubbock Compact and its volunteers have successfully enrolled over 150 new voters. Furthermore, individuals residing in neighboring cities have shown keen interest in emulating this endeavor within their own localities.
Ramirez stated that they have received feedback from numerous individuals residing in Wolfforth, Levelland, Slaton, and other places expressing their interest in exploring the possibility of pursuing the same endeavor. They believe that the movement to decriminalize marijuana will persistently expand until it ultimately leads to its legalization, aligning with the desires of the majority of Texans.
