A rising variety of Texans help the legalization of marijuana, based on a statewide ballot.
Total, 60% of Texas adults mentioned they help legalizing marijuana, the 18th annual Texas Lyceum Ballot discovered. That represents a 14-point leap because the survey final requested about marijuana in 2015.
Opposition to legalization comes largely from older adults, Republicans and self-identified conservatives. Amongst Texans over the age of 65 and Republicans, simply 49% mentioned they help legalization. Amongst those that recognized as conservative, 46% had been in help.
Simply 31% of these polled mentioned they oppose marijuana laws. Roughly 10% mentioned they didn’t know.
Amongst those that oppose legalization, 42% mentioned that they’d help decriminalizing possession of small quantities to a quotation and superb.
Some Texas cities have tried to decriminalize marijuana, however they face pushback from Legal professional Common Ken Paxton, who earlier this 12 months introduced he was suing 5 cities, together with Denton, over their marijuana insurance policies. His workplace additionally sued Austin, Elgin, Killeen and San Marcos.
In 2022, Denton voters authorized an ordinance to decriminalize marijuana, with 71% of voters in favor.
In a press release, Paxton described the cities as being “run by pro-crime extremists” who “intentionally violate Texas legislation and promote the usage of illicit medication that hurt our communities.”
Marijuana continues to be unlawful beneath federal legislation, however 24 states, together with Colorado and New Mexico, have legalized the drug for leisure use.
It’s not clear whether or not widespread help for legalization will sway legislators in Texas, the place marijuana legal guidelines are a complicated patchwork.
Medical marijuana is authorized to a sure extent in Texas. Eligible residents can entry low-level THC hashish beneath the state’s compassionate use program, established in 2015. It permits sure physicians to prescribe medical use low-THC merchandise to sufferers with seizure problems, a number of sclerosis and different circumstances. The Texas Legislature expanded this system’s eligibility to incorporate sufferers with all types of PTSD and most cancers in 2021.
Hemp was legalized in Texas in 2019, authorizing the industrial manufacturing, manufacture and retail sale of the plant that CBD is derived from. Whereas each have the same compound construction, CBD and THC have an effect on the physique otherwise because the latter produces extra of a excessive.
Penalties for marijuana possession differ relying on the quantity.
Possession of as much as 2 ounces of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor and punishable by as much as 180 days in jail and a superb of as much as $2,000. Possession of greater than 2 ounces may lead to as much as a 12 months in jail, and greater than 4 ounces is a felony with a compulsory minimal sentence of two years.
Any quantity of hashish focus, generally present in merchandise akin to edibles, gummies, THC oils and dab pens, is a felony in Texas punishable with a minimal $10,000 superb and 180 days in jails. Marijuana paraphernalia, together with bongs and pipes, can also be unlawful and can lead to a $500 superb.
In November, the Texas Lyceum will host a convention in South Padre exploring the way forward for marijuana and playing in Texas. Playing had roughly the identical help as authorized marijuana, with 57% of these surveyed saying they’d help expanded on line casino playing.
The Texas Lyceum carried out the nonpartisan phone ballot of 1,200 Texans in April.