Austin Zamharir, executive director at the Texas Cannabis Collective, led a group of cannabis advocates during a tour of the State Capitol in December. (Photo by Matt Hennie)
A majority of Texans want to reform the state’s ban on cannabis as lawmakers face several bills on weed and THC.
A new poll from the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston shows that a majority of Texans want significant changes to the state’s marijuana laws.
Some 69% of Texans support decriminalizing the possession of marijuana for personal use, while 62% support legalizing the sale and possession of recreational marijuana. The poll also shows a vast majority — 79% — support legalizing the sale and use of medical marijuana with a prescription.
“When it comes to legalizing marijuana, we’ve heard over and over again from Texans across the state that criminalization doesn’t work — the consequences of an arrest and criminal charges can be life-altering, and can do lasting harm not only to individuals but their communities,” said Amy Kamp, communications director at Ground Game Texas.
Dallas, Bastrop, and Lockhart joined Austin, San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin, Denton, and Harker Heights in 2024 as cities with decriminalization ordinances in the state.
“I think the data shows that Texans embrace whole plant cannabis access and progressive reforms that effectively end marijuana prohibition,” said Austin Zamhariri, executive director of the Texas Cannabis Collective.
However, there’s a disconnect between support for marijuana versus support for THC consumables, which are currently unregulated in the state.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to ban all THC consumable products, and 55% of Texans support doing just that, according to the poll. Thousands of retail outlets across the state sell consumable THC products thanks to a loophole in a 2019 agricultural law designed to boost the state’s industrial hemp industry.
After the results of the poll were published, Patrick took to X, cherry picking the data in his favor.
“There are over 8,000 locations, almost all opening in just the last few years, selling dangerous amounts of THC to kids and adults alike,” Patrick posted. “Once the facts are out in the open, there is no doubt these public polling numbers will rise as more Texans demand a ban on these dangerous THC products.”
Cannabis advocates, however, say that there is more to the debate, attributing the difference in support between marijuana and THC to how the questions in the poll were worded.
“Texans absolutely want access to safe and affordable cannabis products. The question polled mentions unregulated products via the hemp industry. I believe if it were worded to ask if Texans support well regulated hemp products, we would see different results,” Zamhariri said.
Lawmakers are likely to debate marijuana and THC during the current legislative session.
Patrick filed Senate Bill 3, which bans all forms of consumable THC in the state, and he has made it one of his top priority bills.
Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) introduced House Bill 1208, which permits people ages 21 and over to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis. HB 1146, from Rep. Penny Morales Shaw (D-Houston), expands qualifying conditions for the state’s compassionate use marijuana program. It expands the list of qualifying conditions to include “a condition that causes chronic pain, for which a physician would otherwise prescribe an opioid.”
The poll of 1,200 people was conducted in January and has a margin of error of 2.83%.
