Reefer Madness: Texas Attorney General Sues Cities for Weed Amnesty

AUSTIN — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated legal actions against several cities, including Austin, San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin, and Denton, for implementing amnesty and non-prosecution policies deemed in violation of Texas laws pertaining to marijuana possession and distribution.

The legal action comes in response to these municipalities adopting ordinances or policies that direct law enforcement not to enforce Texas drug laws related to the possession and distribution of marijuana. Psychologists have increasingly associated the use of marijuana, considered an illicit substance, with adverse effects such as psychosis and other negative consequences.

According to the Texas Local Government Code, it is prohibited for any political subdivision to adopt a policy that fails to fully enforce drug-related laws. Furthermore, the Texas Constitution expressly states that municipalities are prohibited from enacting ordinances inconsistent with laws enacted by the Texas Legislature (Article 9, Section 5).

Attorney General Paxton voiced his concern over the actions of these cities, stating, “I will not stand idly by as cities run by pro-crime extremists deliberately violate Texas law and promote the use of illicit drugs that harm our communities. 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.”

Attorney General Paxton reiterates his commitment to upholding law and order in Texas, particularly when cities deviate from statutes designed to protect the public from crime, drugs, and violence. He continues his efforts to hold accountable district attorneys whose misuse of prosecutorial discretion has contributed to a deadly national crimewave.