Houston voters approved Proposition A in the recent election, amending the city charter to make Class A and Class B misdemeanor marijuana possession the lowest enforcement priority for the Houston Police Department (HPD) and to prohibit officers from requesting or executing search warrants that do not require them to knock, announce their presence and wait at least 15 seconds.
According to FOX 26, the mayor’s office confirmed that HPD will work toward implementing the required policy changes and providing the necessary training before the amendment takes effect. Álvaro Ortiz, a spokesperson for the mayor’s Office of Communications, said the department is “gathering” information on the effective date but has not yet released a training schedule or revised policy documents.
The amendment also mandates a review of the past five years of misdemeanor marijuana enforcement, updates to the city budget and police manual, and ongoing public reporting. While the measure does not legalize marijuana, it directs HPD to prioritize non‑custodial responses—such as referrals to mental‑health or substance‑use treatment, community service, or other diversion options—when appropriate.
Ground Game Texas, which helped lead the campaign for Proposition A, emphasized the safety rationale behind the no‑knock warrant restrictions. “When it comes to adding no‑knock warrants into this, it really just comes down to the safety of everybody,” said Natalie Marquez, Director of Campaigns for the organization. She added that supporters want officers to consider the broader consequences of misdemeanor possession enforcement, noting, “We want people’s lives to stop unraveling over this issue.”
HPD officials reiterated that officers may still seize suspected marijuana if they have probable cause, but must file a report explaining the grounds for seizure. The department also clarified that the amendment does not create immunity for other offenses and preserves law‑enforcement and prosecutorial discretion to enforce state law.
While the city has not yet provided a comparison of current procedures versus the new requirements, the charter amendment directs the police chief and city manager to ensure policies are updated and officers receive adequate training. No specific deadline for completing these changes has been set in the amendment.
What’s next: HPD will continue to develop revised operating procedures and training programs. Residents can expect public reporting on the implementation progress once the city finalizes the effective date, which the mayor’s office is still determining.
Sources: fox26houston.com, thesurface.ai, thehouston.org
