How we got here
Last year, in an effort to usher in equitable marijuana policies and enact criminal justice reform, Ground Game Texas launched campaigns in five cities across the state, according to the presentation, including:
- Denton
- Killeen
- Harker Heights
- Elgin
- San Marcos
This was a result of a section in the Texas Local Government Code that states a governing body “may not adopt a policy under which the entity will not fully enforce laws relating to drugs.” In essence, the police department can still charge individuals if the marijuana possession charge was in relation to other charges.
The specifics
The end of low-level marijuana enforcement in San Marcos has resulted in an 85% reduction in arrests and citations, according to the report.
From January-June 2022, there were just over 45 arrests and citations. In the same time period in 2023, that number dropped to below 10, the report shows.
The Hays County jail dashboard, created in partnership with the Vera Institute of Justice, now excludes marijuana possession among its data.
What they're saying
"Ground Game has worked with local community organizations in these five cities to engage voters, adopt popular policies, advance meaningful criminal justice reform and save millions of dollars in public resources," said Julie Oliver, Ground Game Texas executive director, in a news release. "Through the issue of marijuana reform, we're helping Texans realize their voice matters, that their vote matters and that they can shape their own destiny through civic engagement. We hope this report inspires more grassroots organizing in communities across the state."
