Country music legend and Texas native Willie Nelson has officially thrown his support behind a ballot measure aimed at decriminalizing small amounts of cannabis in the city of Dallas.
Nelson’s endorsement of Proposition R comes as the city prepares for the November general election, in which voters will have the chance to decide on the legalization initiative for themselves.
Notably, as of Oct. 17, no active opposition against Prop. R has surfaced before the upcoming elections. Yet Police Chief Eddie Garcia has recently discouraged the city from quickly embracing marijuana legalization initiatives, citing the potential harm it may cause to specific neighborhoods around the city.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, at a Dallas City Council meeting in early August Garcia spoke on a concerning link between marijuana and violent crime, claiming that Dallas homicide detectives reported that 17 murders in 2023 were allegedly connected to marijuana in some way.
However, Proposition R, if passed, would stop Dallas Police from arresting or citing people for marijuana possession, and from using the smell of marijuana as a reason to search someone, unless it’s a part of a serious felony investigation. It would also make marijuana possession the lowest priority for police enforcement and prevent city resources from being used to test cannabis unless in specific situations, according to Ballotpedia.
In a statement released through Ground Game Texas, the nonprofit organization leading the legalization push for Prop. R, Nelson expressed his strong belief that the time has come to end the criminalization of marijuana.
“Marijuana is an herb, not a crime,” Nelson said. “Proposition R in Dallas is about fairness and freedom. I’m proud to support the fight to decriminalize. Vote Prop R!,” he added.
Nelson has long been a vocal advocate for cannabis legalization. The country music icon’s own encounters with law enforcement date back to 1974 when he was first arrested for possession of marijuana in Dallas. Over the years, Nelson has faced several other arrests due to Texas’ stringent marijuana laws, including a notable incident in 2006 that forced him to miss the funeral of former Gov. Ann Richards, reported Forbes.
In 2010, Nelson founded the Teapot Party, an organization promoting the legalization and regulation of cannabis, with the motto “tax it, regulate it, and legalize it.”
“Like far too many Texans, Willie knows firsthand how much a weed possession charge can disrupt a life. We’re grateful for his years of advocacy for common sense reform and we look forward to continuing this work across Texas,” Catina Voellinger, executive director of Ground Game Texas, said via social media.
Yet, Police Chief Garcia has directly expressed significant disapproval of a past proposed charter amendment that aimed to decriminalize specifically the possession of up to 4 ounces of marijuana.
Garcia also argued that this change could harm the city’s most at-risk neighborhoods and suggested it might also increase drug-related crime across Dallas. He pointed out that four ounces, roughly equivalent to 113 dime bags, is usually linked to drug dealing rather than personal use. However, Garcia did not provide further explanation for why this specific amount suggests trafficking.
Early voting is set to start on October 21 and will run through November 1. Election Day is scheduled for November 5, where voters can find Prop. R located closer to the bottom of the ballot, according to Ground Game Texas.