Lubbock, Texas Faces Turning Point in Cannabis Decriminalization Effort

A recent attempt to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana in Lubbock, Texas, faced a setback when the city council unanimously decided against the proposed ordinance. The initiative, driven by local advocacy group Lubbock Compact, had gathered significant public support, evidenced by over 10,000 signatures from local voters — more than twice the number required to bring the issue before the council.

Despite this strong community backing, Mayor Tray Payne expressed reservations, stating that the proposal was in conflict with state law and therefore unenforceable. “I do not think it’s appropriate that we try to contradict state law in this manner,” Payne commented, reinforcing the city’s adherence to existing Texas legislation.

Texas remains among the 26 states where recreational marijuana is not legal, maintaining one of the country’s most restrictive medicinal marijuana programs with about 69,000 registered participants. State lawmakers have consistently resisted calls for recreational legalization or reduced penalties for possession, with local officials typically upholding these stances.

Notably, several Texas cities, including Denton, Killeen, Elgin, San Marcos, and Harker Heights, have seen voter-approved ballot measures to ban arrests and citations for carrying less than four ounces of marijuana. However, these rules have not been implemented by the local city councils. In the case of Killeen, Bell County has even filed a lawsuit to prevent the change.

Lubbock, with a population exceeding 264,000, could have been the largest city in Texas to decriminalize marijuana through a residential vote.

Despite the council’s rejection, Lubbock Compact remains undeterred. Adam Hernandez, the group’s communications chair, revealed that they had anticipated and even preferred this outcome, aiming for the issue to be decided by voters. “It’s not fair to either side — the council or the citizens — so our position was that it should go to a vote,” Hernandez stated, expressing satisfaction with the council’s decision.

With the ordinance slated to appear on the ballot in May, Lubbock Compact’s focus now shifts to voter registration and mobilization efforts, encouraging community participation in the upcoming vote.