Houston voters approve Proposition A, lowest marijuana priority for police

Who's involved

• Catina Voellinger · executive director of Ground Game Texas^[2]

The facts

1. Houston voters approved Proposition A on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, with over 70% in support.^[1,2]
2. The measure, known as the Houston Freedom Act, amends the Houston City Charter to establish that enforcement of Class A and Class B misdemeanor marijuana possession must be treated as the Houston Police Department's lowest possible priority.^[1,2]
3. Class A and Class B misdemeanor marijuana possession generally involves possession of four ounces or less of marijuana.^[1]
4. The amendment prohibits Houston police officers from requesting, executing or participating in no-knock search warrants; officers must knock, announce their presence and wait at least 15 seconds before executing a search warrant.^[1]
5. Houston officials must conduct a comprehensive audit of misdemeanor marijuana enforcement over the previous five years, including arrests, citations, demographic information, enforcement costs and spending on THC testing, and present the audit publicly within 120 days of the policy taking effect.^[1]
6. The city will be required to produce annual reports detailing marijuana enforcement activity, including arrests, citations, diversion referrals and police resources devoted to enforcement.^[1]
7. The measure does not legalize marijuana, which remains prohibited under Texas law.^[1]
8. Proposition A reached the ballot following a petition campaign led by Ground Game Texas, which submitted approximately 40,000 signatures supporting the proposed charter amendment.^[1,2]

Who said what

• Catina Voellinger, executive director of Ground Game Texas The Houston Freedom Act is proof that when working-class Texans have the opportunity to shape the policies that govern their lives, they can change what's possible, and this demonstrates what democracy looks like when built by and for working people.^[2]