Austin to Decriminalize Marijuana, Ban ‘No-Knock' Warrants

The Texas flag flies over the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)Tom Fox, MBR / TNS(Bloomberg) -- Austin resident...

May 15, 2022
6:50 PM

The Texas flag flies over the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)Tom Fox, MBR / TNS(Bloomberg) -- Austin residents voted to decriminalize low-level marijuana possession and ban police from using no-knock warrants, a win for a liberal group that pushed the ballot initiative in Texas' capital. The measure received 85% support, according to unofficial results posted by county election officials Saturday. The rules, which the city council must codify into law, prohibit police officers from issuing citations or arrests for possession of small amounts of marijuana except in very limited circumstances and will require that officers executing search warrants announce their presence before entering homes.

Shelly Hagan