As the country continues to grapple with the issue of marijuana legalization, a new poll conducted by the University of Texas and the Texas Tribune has found that over half of Texas voters support relaxing the state’s marijuana laws. The poll, which surveyed 1,200 registered voters in Texas, found that 54 percent of respondents support either legalizing marijuana for recreational use or reducing criminal penalties for possession.
The poll results come as a bill to decriminalize marijuana possession in Texas is moving forward in the state legislature. The proposed bill, HB 63, would reduce the penalty for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana from a criminal offense to a civil penalty with a fine of up to $250. Currently, possession of any amount of marijuana is a criminal offense punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
The bill has been met with strong support from both sides of the aisle in the Texas legislature. Democratic state Rep. Joe Moody, who authored the bill, said that it would “bring some sanity to our marijuana laws” and “end the unnecessary criminalization of people for low-level possession.” Republican state Rep. Jeff Leach echoed these sentiments, saying that “it’s time to stop treating people like criminals for simply possessing small amounts of marijuana.”
The poll results and proposed bill suggest that there is growing support for relaxing marijuana laws in Texas. If passed, HB 63 would be a major step forward in reforming the state’s marijuana laws and could pave the way for further reforms in the future. It remains to be seen how the bill will fare in the legislature, but it is clear that Texans are increasingly supportive of changing the state’s approach to marijuana.
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