KILLEEN, TX (Friday, January 14, 2022) – On Friday, January 14, 2022, the voter engagement and mobilization organization, Ground Game Texas, announced the launch of a new ballot initiative campaign to decriminalize possession of marijuana in Killeen and Harker Heights, Texas.
If approved by voters on the November general election ballot, the initiative would amend the Killeen city code to decriminalize low-level marijuana offenses. The ballot campaign is being launched in partnership with local community groups and leaders such as former Mayor Pro-Tem Shirley Fleming and candidate for County Commissioner Louie Minor. Last month, with the help of local organizations, Ground Game Texas successfully secured a ballot initiative in Austin to decriminalize marijuana and ban no-knock police warrants.
“In a quickly growing and thriving community like Killeen, there’s no excuse for the continued over-policing and incarceration of community members for marijuana use,” said Julie Oliver, Executive Director of Ground Game Texas. “On the heels of our successful ballot campaign in Austin, we’re proud to partner with local leaders to launch similar efforts in Killeen and Harker Heights — to end the war on drugs and the disproportionate policing of communities of color.”
“Black residents make up 40% of the population in Killeen, but account for nearly 80% of community members arrested for marijuana possession,” said Mike Siegel, Political Director of Ground Game Texas. “This ordinance would help bring an end to the disproportionate injustice of marijuana enforcement, and would greatly benefit veterans and those with serious illnesses who cite its use in managing pain.”
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About Ground Game Texas
Ground Game Texas is a voter engagement and mobilization organization founded by Register2Vote leaders Julie Oliver and Mike Siegel in 2021. Based in Austin, Ground Game Texas seeks to organize voters community-by-community, collaborating with partners on the ground to meet voters at their doors and push for popular progressive policies across the state of Texas.
Source: Campaign email