Texas AG Sues Cities Over Marijuana Decriminalization
Ken Paxton argues that the cities' policies violate Texas drug laws and the constitution, sparking criticism of an anti-democratic assault on local law enforcement priorities.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed lawsuits against five Texas cities – Austin, Denton, San Marcos, Killeen and Elgin – over their marijuana amnesty and non-prosecution policies.
- The cities had enacted laws decriminalizing marijuana one to three years ago, directing police and prosecutors to deprioritize pressing charges against people holding small amounts of cannabis.
- Paxton argues that these policies violate Texas drug laws and the Texas constitution, which he says forbids cities from adopting policies that result in not fully enforcing drug-related laws.
- The lawsuit comes amid a broader push by the conservative state government to exert authority over its left-leaning cities.
- Paxton's move has been criticized by some as an anti-democratic assault on the constitutional authority of Texas Home Rule cities to set local law enforcement priorities.
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