Most Texans support legalizing pot, but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says no

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is unmoved by a brand new ballot revealing {that a} majority of Texans assist legalizing marijuana for medical and leisure use.

Abbott stated Tuesday that his place has not modified past what he’s proposed up to now — decreasing the prison penalty for marijuana possession to a Class C misdemeanor, however not legalizing the drug.

However based on a Dallas Morning Information-College of Texas at Tyler ballot launched Sunday, an amazing proportion of registered Texas voters — 91% of Democrats, 85% of independents and 74% of Republicans, combining for 83% complete — again the concept of legalizing marijuana for medical use within the state, one thing the Legislature has repeatedly expanded, together with as not too long ago as final yr.

Relating to leisure use, which is authorized in 18 different states, together with neighboring New Mexico, Texans are a bit extra hesitant.

The Information-UT Tyler ballot, which surveyed 1,232 registered voters between Could 2-10 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 proportion factors, discovered that 60% of respondents assist legalizing marijuana for leisure use.

Former El Paso congressman Beto O’Rourke, Abbott’s rival on this November’s race for governor, helps the whole legalization of marijuana.

Abbott gained’t go that far, however he stated Tuesday he understands modifications in marijuana legal guidelines are wanted.

“We don’t should be stockpiling in our jails and prisons will people who find themselves arrested for minor possession allegations,” Abbott stated after a roundtable dialogue with enterprise leaders in North Richland Hills. “We might be protecting these jails for harmful criminals who should be behind bars.”

The governor may be on strong floor together with his GOP base. Based on the ballot, simply 42% of Republicans assist legalizing marijuana for leisure use, in contrast with a majority of Democrats and independents, 76% and 64%, respectively.

Victor Cogburn, a Republican from Stephenville who responded to The Information-UT-Tyler ballot, is a retired lieutenant of correctional officers who labored for the Texas Division of Felony Justice for 26 years and says opposes legalization throughout the board.

“It’s a drug,” he stated. “That’s dope. That’s dope, that’s the method I take a look at it. No, it shouldn’t be legalized.”

O’Rourke, who trailed Abbott within the governor’s race by 7 proportion factors within the ballot, says legalizing marijuana is the precise factor to do from a prison justice perspective. The Democrat added that it could create a billion-dollar taxable business for Texas.

Whereas marijuana stays unlawful beneath federal regulation, states have been engaged in efforts to legalize or decriminalize it for the final decade. Based on a CBS Information ballot, two-thirds of People need leisure marijuana use to be authorized beneath federal regulation and in their very own state.

In 2018, Oklahoma voters authorised legalizing marijuana for medicinal use, and this yr, they’ll vote on full legalization.

Howard Rogers, a Republican from Deer Park, southeast of Houston, who responded to The Information/UT-Tyler ballot, stated he doesn’t smoke marijuana, however he helps legalizing it for each medical and leisure use.

“It’s your personal enterprise, what you do,” he stated. “It’s identical to consuming [alcohol], I drink. … It’s all people’s enterprise what they do at their very own dwelling.”

What are the marijuana legal guidelines in Texas?

In Texas, eligible residents have been capable of entry low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) hashish for medical functions via the state’s compassionate use program was authorised in 2015. By regulation, this program is proscribed to Texans with epilepsy, seizure issues, a number of sclerosis, spasticity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism, terminal most cancers and incurable neurodegenerative ailments.

The Legislature expanded this system to incorporate all types of PTSD and most cancers final yr.

Regardless of the current growth of authorized medical use, although, it’s nonetheless unlawful to own marijuana within the Lone Star State.

Possession of as much as 2 ounces is a Class B misdemeanor and punishable by as much as 180 days in jail and a positive of as much as $2,000. Possession of greater than 2 ounces might end in as much as a yr in jail, and greater than 4 ounces is a felony.

If motion within the state’s capital is any indication, although, that might ultimately change. Earlier this month, Austin residents voted overwhelmingly for a proposition forbidding cops from ticketing and arresting individuals on low-level marijuana offenses, successfully decriminalizing the possession of small quantities of weed.

In Dallas, District Lawyer John Creuzot introduced in 2019 that his workplace would decline to prosecute most misdemeanor instances of first-time marijuana possession. Final yr, the Plano police chief stated they might not arrest individuals caught with 2 ounces of marijuana or much less.

And Delta-8 continues to be briefly authorized after a Travis County decide granted an injunction towards the state’s determination to categorise the favored hashish extract as a Schedule I drug, which made it unlawful.

Software program developer John Beltran, an impartial voter who responded to The Information/UT-Tyler ballot and lives exterior Pflugerville in Travis County, stated he’s by no means used marijuana, however from the research he’s seen, legalizing marijuana may benefit native communities and governments.

“It reveals that [marijuana] reduces the necessity for the usage of opioids, in these communities the place it’s authorized, even when it’s only for medicinal use,” Beltran stated. “Leisure use, the place it’s regulated and also you don’t purchase it off the road … and with the ability to be taxed, to fund social packages or regardless of the native governments resolve, would make much more sense than simply letting or not it’s purchased from, you recognize, any random particular person.”

Gromer Jeffers Jr. reported from North Richland Hills, and Emily Caldwell reported from Washington.

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