Texas City Certifies Signatures for Cannabis Decriminalization Ballot Initiative

TEXAS – Lubbock, Texas has officially verified the submission of enough valid signatures to place a cannabis decriminalization initiative on the local ballot.

According to Marijuana Moment, the Freedom Act Lubbock committee collected over 10,000 signatures for the measure, of which 5,185 were confirmed as valid—surpassing the required minimum by approximately 300 signatures.

“A resolution and certification of the petition will be presented to the Lubbock City Council” said the City Secretary. “This is for the purpose of the City Council receiving all papers pertaining to the petition and proposed ordinance, and receiving a certificate attesting to the results of the petition verification.”

Local lawmakers have a 30-day window to decide whether to enact the reform legislatively. If they opt not to do so, the proposal will be put before voters to decide.

Under the initiative, local law enforcement would be restricted from arresting or citing adults in possession of up to four ounces of cannabis, unless there is a binding state or federal court order against the policy. In that case, cannabis possession enforcement would be the lowest priority for the city.

Lubbock, as Texas’s tenth most populous city, would become one of the largest cities to adopt such reforms. Other cities in Texas, like Austin, Delton, Elgin, Harker Heights, Killeen, and San Marcos, have already enacted similar measures.