The majority of Texans support the legalization of recreational cannabis, but they support it even more

Through Nina Zdinjak

A majority of Texans support legalizing adult-use marijuana, according to a new poll by the Dallas Morning News-University of Texas at Tyler. Of those polled, 55% said they either support or strongly support legalization, the Dallas Morning News reported.

What about medical marijuana? You guessed it, support is even broader, with around 72% of respondents confirming that they support or strongly support the plant’s legalization for medicinal purposes. Wait, hasn’t The Lone Star State already legalized the use of medicinal cannabis?

Current cannabis laws in Texas

Well, although medicinal cannabis is somewhat legal in the state, it is tightly regulated. Only patients with conditions such as cancer, autism, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and multiple sclerosis qualify to use medical marijuana. Additionally, as of 2021, there were approximately 7,000 MMJ patients on the state registry and only 348 physicians able to prescribe medicinal cannabis.

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Texas first legalized medical marijuana about seven years ago under the Compassionate Use Act, which allowed patients with intractable epilepsy to purchase and use cannabis oil containing less than 0.5%. The program has since expanded, with more qualifying terms and allowing 1% THC in MMJ products.

Although previous polls showed similar results, Gov. Greg Abbott’s stance hasn’t changed much. In January, Abbott agreed to reduce, but not legalize, the penalty for marijuana possession to a Class C misdemeanor. In Texas, possession of up to 2 ounces is still considered a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in prison and a fine of up to $2,000. More than 2 ounces can result in a prison sentence of up to one year, while more than 4 ounces is considered a felony.

Last Survey Key Takeaways

The poll used a nationwide random sample of 1,384 registered voters and was conducted between August 1 and 7.

When it comes to bipartisan support, Democrats lead the way in support of recreational cannabis legalization, with 38% strongly supporting legalization and 27% supporting it, compared to 26% and 17% for Republicans, respectively.

The poll also found that 12% of Democrats and 32% of Republicans are strongly opposed to legalizing recreational cannabis use.

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“If they legalize it, there’s going to be a pharmacy popping up on every corner of our town, and that’s not really something I look forward to every day,” said Republican Edwin Kirby, who lives in Tyler. “With the drug problems that we now have with young children, that’s only going to add fuel to the fire.”

Laurie Richardson, a Frisco Democrat who responded to the Morning News-UT-Tyler poll, on the other hand, acknowledges the medicinal benefits of marijuana. And while she’s never used it, she’s aware that cannabis prohibition doesn’t work.

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“We’ve tried banning alcohol, and then there’s all these people trying to make their own alcohol and people getting alcohol poisoning — I think the same with marijuana,” Richardson said. “I just don’t think you’ll be able to stop people from accessing it if they want to. I think it has to be treated almost like alcohol.”

When it comes to medical marijuana, the difference isn’t that big. About 49% of Democrats and 35% of Republicans strongly support legalization, while 8% of Democrats and 13% of Republicans oppose it.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.