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 @ISIDEWITHNewsUnited StatesTexasmarijuana decriminalizationProposition Avoter referendumLubbock•••1yr ago

Lubbock Voters Say No to Marijuana Decriminalization Proposal

In a significant vote, the residents of Lubbock, Texas, have made their stance clear on the issue of marijuana decriminalization. A proposed ordinance, aimed at reducing the penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana, was overwhelmingly rejected by voters. The proposition, known as Proposition A, sought to instruct local police not to arrest individuals found with four ounces or less of marijuana. This move was seen as a step towards decriminalizing the substance in the city limits, potentially setting a precedent for similar actions in other Texas cities.

The defeat of Proposition A in Lubbock reflects a broader debate on marijuana laws in Texas, where there is currently no mechanism for a voter-driven statewide referendum on such issues. Advocates for legalized marijuana had hoped that a positive outcome in Lubbock would send a strong message to state lawmakers, encouraging them to reconsider the state's stance on marijuana decriminalization. The strategy has been to approach the issue city by city, building momentum for statewide change.

However, early voting results had already indicated a leaning against the proposition, with a significant majority of Lubbock voters opposing the measure. The final tally confirmed this trend, with 66.12 percent of voters rejecting the proposal. This outcome underscores the challenges faced by advocates in pushing for marijuana reform in regions with conservative values or skepticism towards drug decriminalization.

The rejection of Proposition A in Lubbock does not mark the end of the road for marijuana decriminalization efforts in Texas. Supporters of the cause remain hopeful that continued advocacy and education will eventually lead to changes in the state's marijuana laws. As the national conversation around marijuana legalization evolves, Texas remains a key battleground in the debate over how to best regulate the substance.

For now, the voters of Lubbock have spoken, and the city will not be joining the growing list of places in the United States that have taken steps to decriminalize or legalize marijuana. The outcome of this vote is a reminder of the diverse opinions and legal landscapes that exist across the country when it comes to marijuana policy.

5 Replies

 @LazyJ0intResolLibertarian from Florida  commented…1yr1Y

It's disappointing to see Lubbock missing out on an opportunity to advance personal freedom and reduce unnecessary government interference in personal choices.

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

If you had to vote on marijuana decriminalization, how would personal experiences or stories you’ve heard influence your decision?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

How would you feel if your community voted against a law you strongly supported, like the marijuana decriminalization proposal?

 @ISIDEWITHlinked…1yr1Y

Legalized marijuana supporters hope voters in this Texas city will send a message to state lawmakers

https://expressnews.com

There is no process in Texas for a voter-driven statewide referendum. So, supporters are going city by city to build statewide momentum.

 @ISIDEWITHlinked…1yr1Y

Lubbock voters reject attempt to end arrests for possessing small amounts of marijuana

https://news.yahoo.com

A ballot proposition would have instructed police not to arrest people who have four ounces or less of marijuana.

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Horror in Northern Gaza: U.S. Questions Israel After Civilians Slaughtered in Residential Attack

An Israeli strike on a residential building in northern Gaza killed dozens of people early Tuesday, the territory’s emergency service said, in the latest attack to cause mass casualties in the area since Israel renewed its offensive against Hamas in the north.The Palestinian Civil Defense, the emergency service, said at least 55 people were killed in the strike in the town of Beit Lahia. Gaza’s health ministry said at least 93 people were dead, including 25 children. The Israeli military said in a statement that it was “aware of reports that civilians were harmed” in the town and was looking into the details.Matt Miller, a U.S. State Department spokesman, called the strike “a horrifying incident with a horrifying result” and said the Biden administration had contacted the Israeli government to ask what happened.Israeli forces renewed their offensive in northern Gaza this month, saying they were trying to stem a regrouping of Hamas, the militant group that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, sparking the war in Gaza.The strike comes days after another Israeli attack on a residential block in Beit Lahia that left dozens of people killed or wounded, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense. The Israeli military confirmed the strike on Sunday, saying that the air force had “conducted a precise strike” targeting Hamas fighters.An overnight Israeli airstrike hit another residential building in the town on Oct. 20, killing dozens of people, Palestinian officials and emergency workers said.Roughly 400,000 people remain in northern Gaza, according to the United Nations, and many have been trapped in their ruined neighborhoods.

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…8mos8MO

Death, Denial, and Silence: Inside China’s Push to Bury Zhuhai’s Devastating SUV Attack

Outside the sports center in the southern city of Zhuhai where a 62-year-old man had plowed an S.U.V. into a crowd, killing at least 35 people, workers on Wednesday quickly removed bouquets of flowers left by grieving residents. Uniformed police officers and officials in plainclothes shooed away bystanders and warned them not to take photos. At hospitals where patients were taken after the attack — at least 43 more people were injured — local officials sat outside the intensive care units, blocking journalists from speaking with family members.On the Chinese internet, censors were mobilized to delete videos, news articles and commentaries about the attack. Almost 24 hours had passed before officials divulged details about the assault, which happened on Monday, including the death toll. Their statement offered limited details, and they have held no news conferences.The response was a precise enactment of the Chinese government’s usual playbook after mass tragedies: Prevent any nonofficial voices, including eyewitnesses and survivors, from speaking about the event. Spread assurances of stability. Minimize public displays of grief.The goal is to stifle potential questions and criticism of the authorities, and force the public to move on as quickly as possible. And to a large degree, it appeared to be working.Though many residents of Zhuhai, the city of 2.4 million where the attack happened, were clearly shaken, they said on Wednesday they had not questioned the delay in information, attributing it to the government’s need to first sort out what had happened. A steady stream of people arrived by foot or taxi to lay flowers at the sports center’s entrance, but when officials took away the flowers and told the people not to linger, they quickly complied.Local governments have also vowed in recent months to spend more time screening for people who have experienced “failures,” after a spate of violent attacks, including several cases in which schoolchildren were stabbed.But officials were also clearly on the lookout for any deeper scrutiny of the Zhuhai killings. Videos and photos of the scene of the attack showed only as grayed-out squares on Weibo, a social media platform. Blog posts urging people not to treat violent attacks as isolated incidents, but rather to look deeper for potential social causes, disappeared.

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