Two-thirds of Texans said they would back legalization of recreational adult use.
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Fancy Fairchild, right, waves a flag during a rally to legalize marijuana at the Governor’s Mansion in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday April 20, 2022. A few dozen activists gathered at 4:20 p.m. on 4/20 to bring attention to cause. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)Jay Janner, MBR / Associated Press
Texans would widely support relaxed marijuana restrictions all the way up to legalization for recreational adult use, a poll released Thursday by the University of Houston found.
Medical marijuana is legal in Texas in very limited circumstances, but recreational marijuana is still banned outside of some cannabis-derived products with synthetic forms of THC, the component that produces a high.
GOP SUPPORT: Ag Commissioner Sid Miller calls for expanding marijuana use in Texas
Polls in recent years have shown broad support for some form of marijuana legalization in the state. In the new survey, of 1,200 adults, 4 in 5 respondents said they would support an expanded medical marijuana program. The same percentage said they would be in favor of decriminalizing marijuana possession, making the offense closer to a traffic ticket. Two-thirds said they would back legalization of recreational adult use.
Legalization faces an uphill battle in Texas, where Republican leaders have been at odds over how much to relax the current restrictions.
Gov. Greg Abbott has said he’d support reducing the criminal penalty for marijuana possession but not legalizing it outright. House Speaker Dade Phelan has said he too supports decriminalization policies. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who controls the state Senate, has blocked bills in the past to ease Texas’ laws criminalizing the substance.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, whose department oversees the production of cannabis in the state, last year called for expansion of the medical marijuana program, saying the decision on whether a person should use the substance should be made by doctors, not lawmakers.
“It is time for all of us, including the governor, members of the Texas Legislature and others to come together and set aside our political differences to have an honest conversation about cannabis: where we have been, where we are going and what role government should properly play,” Miller said.
Across the country, marijuana has been legalized for recreational use among adults in 21 states and Washington, D.C. An additional 10 have decriminalized the substance.
The University of Houston poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.
edward.mckinley@chron.com