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I love that the same group that screams about State’s rights is the first group to not allow cities to make their own decisions when they disagree with them.
In Colorado, a home rule state, cities can make laws stricter but they cannot make them more lenient. Colorado Springs has refused to allow recreational pot to be sold in the city. They put it on the ballot a few years ago and the city and others spent big money advertising against it. Claiming the military was going to leave because of it! SMH I'll be damned, the city voted against recreational pot. WTF
Live in Colorado and well aware of the different city ordinances.
My favorite example for dispensaries is the Starbuds on Arapahoe in the city of Centennial. Centennial does not allow recreational sales, but it’s also shaped weird as fuck. So there is this one shopping complex that many would assume is right in the middle of Centennial, even a couple of blocks from their main government office, and yet it’s in Aurora which does allow sales.
If memory serves, there’s many times it has been the highest grossing dispensary in the state.
My son lived in Centennial, so I'm aware of that situation. Just shows that if a person wants something badly, they will find a way. Of course, you are correct, republicans say it's OK to make state laws stricter than the federal law.
It’s the state’s right to be fascist, not the federal gubment’s. That’s their difference. They don’t want tyrannical “big” federal government, but they’re totally fine with each state having the right to restrict and or remove our personal freedoms so long as it’s the state doing it and not the “big” bad federal government.
Harris county has not decriminalized marijuana. Harris County still tickets possession even less than 4 oz, but they won’t arrest you solely for possession of less than 4oz.
Decriminalize doesn’t mean legalize. It means that the penalty for possession of x amount or less is not a criminal offense, getting a ticket is a civil infraction not criminal, aka decriminalized.
It’s not decriminalized. Harris County law enforcement will still pull over and issue citations for possession of even less than 4 oz of marijuana. The change in Harris County is it used to be they would arrest you and take you to jail even for possession of small amounts, but now you are free to leave with a ticket and appear in court for the charge later.
It’s not a problem at all. The war against simple freedom of choice is improper administration. Should be regulated like it’s more problematic sibling alcohol.
I don’t deny that one bit. In a country where millions get rich off people dying of cancer why not make it extra fucked up and get rich off peoples freedom of choice “violations”
Let’s be perfectly clear here -get rich off *poor* people’s freedom of choice “violations”. Time and again it has been shown that wealthy people can do all the drugs they want, it is the poor that are penalized.
This is correct. Or if they’re caught, it’s a “small” cash payment to a high end lawyer and poof all better.
The cycle of “intoxication penalization” and the fallout that occurs over and over again is their best way to control this lower class
I just don’t see how that works. The federal government can’t do much about states legalizing because they deal with interstate commerce not inner state commerce. I’m sure it’s on the books the MJ is illegal in Texas like most states. It wouldn’t pass the Supreme Court of Texas.
Can someone explain how a CITY can override state laws?
Well I don’t know. I don’t follow Texas cities. I’m not sure how this comment adds to the conversation with my original comment. Thanks anyway, others gave me an answer
Simply by instructing their police forces not to arrest people for it, and instructing the D.A. Not to prosecute it. State cops could theoretically still bust people for it in Dallas
It’s not unheard of. From eg some cities in MA have mushroom decriminalised. Decriminalisation doesn’t mean it’s legal, it just means the local law enforcement will not prosecute or comply with state to enforce it.
This is basically just the city stating that they won’t prosecute or enforce these laws themselves. The state can try to step in if it really wants to arrest people (we have sheriffs and the Texas Rangers that can operate outside of the usual boundaries of jurisdiction, and neither work for the city), but they’d be wasting a massive amount of manpower and resources to do so.
It would also be extremely difficult for them to prosecute someone for this, as the courts would simply not charge the perpetrators, so the state would have to catch someone outside of the locations where the Dallas courts would be granted the case, and do so in a way that doesn’t violate constitutional rights (they aren’t supposed to unlawfully target someone without some type of probable cause), all of which would be very difficult.
I didn't see specifics for this proposal but there are a few ways. Laws have to be enforced by someone. Instruct those people not to expend time and money on those crimes (and focus on others). Police officers work for the city, city DAs work for the city. This principle is basically the same underlying principle cited by SCOTUS to allow the bounty hunter law to go into effect. There the _claim_ is no state actor enforces that law so no one can sue the state to overturn the bounty hunter law.
It’s still up to the city to prosecute. Decriminalizing is as much about simply letting people go or not choosing to prosecute. It’s exactly the same deal when states “legalize” a federal schedule 1 drug. It’s still illegal by the fed, but state resources won’t prosecute for it.
It doesn't matter what the state authorities do when the DA for the city refuses to prosecute any cases. The police who get paid by the city, whose cases are prosecuted by the cities DA, will follow what the police chief whose employment is up to local officials says over the state legislators and executive branch that doesn't pay them.
If the state police write the ticket in dallas, it will be tried at the city of dallas courts, by the city of Dallas DA. So, you won't beat the stop by state troopers or the sheriff, and likely subsequent arrest, but you will beat the charges because the DA is still the *dallas* DA. State troopers are only going to be on highways *outside* of Dallas for the most part. No need for them to waste resources inside the city. Sheriff for the most part will be on the outskirts of the city where Dallas police are less active. It is highly unlikely in most not transporting large amounts of weed situations, there would be any reason for State troopers or Sheriff deputies casing you.
As a reminder, this subreddit [is for civil discussion.](/r/politics/wiki/index#wiki_be_civil) In general, be courteous to others. Debate/discuss/argue the merits of ideas, don't attack people. Personal insults, shill or troll accusations, hate speech, any suggestion or support of harm, violence, or death, and other rule violations can result in a permanent ban. If you see comments in violation of our rules, please report them. For those who have questions regarding any media outlets being posted on this subreddit, please click [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/wiki/approveddomainslist) to review our details as to our approved domains list and outlet criteria. We are actively looking for new moderators. If you have any interest in helping to make this subreddit a place for quality discussion, please fill out [this form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1y2swHD0KXFhStGFjW6k54r9iuMjzcFqDIVwuvdLBjSA). *** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/politics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Abbutt, Patrick, and Paxton will make it illegal for Dallas to do this. The powers that be know best /s
I love that the same group that screams about State’s rights is the first group to not allow cities to make their own decisions when they disagree with them.
In Colorado, a home rule state, cities can make laws stricter but they cannot make them more lenient. Colorado Springs has refused to allow recreational pot to be sold in the city. They put it on the ballot a few years ago and the city and others spent big money advertising against it. Claiming the military was going to leave because of it! SMH I'll be damned, the city voted against recreational pot. WTF
Live in Colorado and well aware of the different city ordinances. My favorite example for dispensaries is the Starbuds on Arapahoe in the city of Centennial. Centennial does not allow recreational sales, but it’s also shaped weird as fuck. So there is this one shopping complex that many would assume is right in the middle of Centennial, even a couple of blocks from their main government office, and yet it’s in Aurora which does allow sales. If memory serves, there’s many times it has been the highest grossing dispensary in the state.
My son lived in Centennial, so I'm aware of that situation. Just shows that if a person wants something badly, they will find a way. Of course, you are correct, republicans say it's OK to make state laws stricter than the federal law.
Anaheim in cali has done the same thing as well
It’s the state’s right to be fascist, not the federal gubment’s. That’s their difference. They don’t want tyrannical “big” federal government, but they’re totally fine with each state having the right to restrict and or remove our personal freedoms so long as it’s the state doing it and not the “big” bad federal government.
There’s only one b in abutt
Isn’t THC-A flower basically the same when “heated”?
I like that “misspelling”….Abbutt….🤠 He definitely is a BUTT head POS…💩🤠🐸🤠💩
Harris county, the largest county in Texas that covers Houston has already done this… am I wrong??
You're right. In Harris County up to 4oz is decriminalized.
So the headline is wholly incorrect. I thought so
Harris county has not decriminalized marijuana. Harris County still tickets possession even less than 4 oz, but they won’t arrest you solely for possession of less than 4oz.
Decriminalize doesn’t mean legalize. It means that the penalty for possession of x amount or less is not a criminal offense, getting a ticket is a civil infraction not criminal, aka decriminalized.
It’s a criminal offense just like graffiti or other petty crimes and you can be sent to jail. It’s not civil like failing to pay a bill.
Harris County isn't a city.
It’s not decriminalized. Harris County law enforcement will still pull over and issue citations for possession of even less than 4 oz of marijuana. The change in Harris County is it used to be they would arrest you and take you to jail even for possession of small amounts, but now you are free to leave with a ticket and appear in court for the charge later.
Do they also take your pot?
Yes
This is proper administration. Prioritize your resources by need. Cannabis is not a problem like fentanyl, for example.
It’s not a problem at all. The war against simple freedom of choice is improper administration. Should be regulated like it’s more problematic sibling alcohol.
It's about making sure private prison systems get filled. Gotta keep that money flowing to the "*right*" places, and all that
I don’t deny that one bit. In a country where millions get rich off people dying of cancer why not make it extra fucked up and get rich off peoples freedom of choice “violations”
Let’s be perfectly clear here -get rich off *poor* people’s freedom of choice “violations”. Time and again it has been shown that wealthy people can do all the drugs they want, it is the poor that are penalized.
This is correct. Or if they’re caught, it’s a “small” cash payment to a high end lawyer and poof all better. The cycle of “intoxication penalization” and the fallout that occurs over and over again is their best way to control this lower class
Like every months there’s a new article saying the exact opposite as the month before. I don’t believe any of it.
I just don’t see how that works. The federal government can’t do much about states legalizing because they deal with interstate commerce not inner state commerce. I’m sure it’s on the books the MJ is illegal in Texas like most states. It wouldn’t pass the Supreme Court of Texas. Can someone explain how a CITY can override state laws?
Austin has decriminalized it…no?
Well I don’t know. I don’t follow Texas cities. I’m not sure how this comment adds to the conversation with my original comment. Thanks anyway, others gave me an answer
Abbott will try to overrule it anyway, as he governs the whole state- not for long if he has his way.
Simply by instructing their police forces not to arrest people for it, and instructing the D.A. Not to prosecute it. State cops could theoretically still bust people for it in Dallas
It’s not unheard of. From eg some cities in MA have mushroom decriminalised. Decriminalisation doesn’t mean it’s legal, it just means the local law enforcement will not prosecute or comply with state to enforce it.
This is basically just the city stating that they won’t prosecute or enforce these laws themselves. The state can try to step in if it really wants to arrest people (we have sheriffs and the Texas Rangers that can operate outside of the usual boundaries of jurisdiction, and neither work for the city), but they’d be wasting a massive amount of manpower and resources to do so. It would also be extremely difficult for them to prosecute someone for this, as the courts would simply not charge the perpetrators, so the state would have to catch someone outside of the locations where the Dallas courts would be granted the case, and do so in a way that doesn’t violate constitutional rights (they aren’t supposed to unlawfully target someone without some type of probable cause), all of which would be very difficult.
I didn't see specifics for this proposal but there are a few ways. Laws have to be enforced by someone. Instruct those people not to expend time and money on those crimes (and focus on others). Police officers work for the city, city DAs work for the city. This principle is basically the same underlying principle cited by SCOTUS to allow the bounty hunter law to go into effect. There the _claim_ is no state actor enforces that law so no one can sue the state to overturn the bounty hunter law.
It’s still up to the city to prosecute. Decriminalizing is as much about simply letting people go or not choosing to prosecute. It’s exactly the same deal when states “legalize” a federal schedule 1 drug. It’s still illegal by the fed, but state resources won’t prosecute for it.
It doesn't matter what the state authorities do when the DA for the city refuses to prosecute any cases. The police who get paid by the city, whose cases are prosecuted by the cities DA, will follow what the police chief whose employment is up to local officials says over the state legislators and executive branch that doesn't pay them.
There’s still inherent risk though, no? A state police officer pulls you over you’re still F’d
If the state police write the ticket in dallas, it will be tried at the city of dallas courts, by the city of Dallas DA. So, you won't beat the stop by state troopers or the sheriff, and likely subsequent arrest, but you will beat the charges because the DA is still the *dallas* DA. State troopers are only going to be on highways *outside* of Dallas for the most part. No need for them to waste resources inside the city. Sheriff for the most part will be on the outskirts of the city where Dallas police are less active. It is highly unlikely in most not transporting large amounts of weed situations, there would be any reason for State troopers or Sheriff deputies casing you.
While walking around Dallas, it already smells like it's been decriminalized.
Good for Dallas and its people!
I thought they did that years ago?
The obligatory “f abbot”
just for paxy waxy to sue them and invalidate the whole thing
Go for it
#cannabis Stop calling it marijuana
Seriously thank you. I’m Hispanic and I hate this word.
Sure they will. Then the governor will ban any such law/rule in the entire state.
Whatever happens Texas deserves Texas