The majority of Texans support legalizing cannabis for recreational use, according to new poll

Yet another poll shows the majority of Texans favor legalizing cannais for recreational use.

According to a new Dallas Morning News-University of Texas at Tyler survey, 55% of Texans said they either support or strongly support legalization of recreational pot. That number rises to 72% for green-lighting marijuana for medical use.

Last year, the Texas Legislature expanded the state’s medical cannabis program to include PTSD and cancer, but it still remains one of the most restrictive in the country. Meanwhile, possession of even a small amount of grass in the Lone Star State remains a Class B misdemeanor punishable by jail time.

Despite recent polls showing Texans’ support for legalizing cannabis, that’s unlikely to happen until voters decide to clean house in Austin, where the GOP controls all levers of power.

Gov. Greg Abbott has said he supports cutting the criminal penalty for pot possession to a Class C misdemeanor but opposes legalization, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has repeatedly blocked cannabis reform from discussion in the Texas Senate.

The Texas Republican Party’s latest platform opposes legalizing cannabis for recreational use. Its other regressive drug-policy positions include calling for drug testing of people on public assistance, opposition to needle exchange programs and the backing of “faith-based rehabilitation” for people struggling with addiction.

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This article appears in Aug 10-23, 2022.