A new poll conducted by The Dallas Morning News and The University of Texas at Tyler indicates wide support for both medical and adult-use cannabis legalization.

Out of polltakers, 72% stated they either “strongly support” or “support” the legalization of medical-use cannabis in Texas, while 20% stated they “strongly oppose” or “oppose” it.

When asked their opinions about legalization of adult-use cannabis in Texas, 55% of respondents said they “strongly support” or “support” it, while 35% of respondents either “strongly oppose” or “oppose” it.

Texas has a limited medical cannabis program, restricted to only tinctures, edibles and topicals, and those products have a 1% THC weight limit. An additional regulatory restriction is that the vertically integrated cannabis companies operating in the state can only store their inventory overnight at one facility where they must cultivate, process and manufacture all their product.

Beto O’Rourke, Democratic nominee for Texas governor, tweeted in response to the Houston Chronicle’s reporting on The Dallas Morning News/UT Tyler poll:

We are going to legalize marijuana in Texas while generating nearly $1 billion a year in new revenue and savings. https://t.co/BW1jyKkEv4

— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) August 20, 2022

However, respondents to the same poll were also asked their impression of O’Rourke, and those who indicated they view him favorably made up a smaller percentage than those who support legalization of both adult-use and medical cannabis.

Regarding O’Rourke, 43% of survey respondents stated that they have either a “very favorable” or “somewhat favorable” impression of him, while another 43% of respondents stated that they have either a “very unfavorable” or “somewhat unfavorable” impression of him.

Poll respondents were also asked if they approve or disapprove of how Republican Greg Abbott is handling his job as governor. Ahead of the Nov. 8 gubernatorial race, 47% of respondents said they either “strongly approve” or “approve,” and 49% said they “strongly disapprove” or “disapprove.”

In May, following another The Dallas Morning News/UT Tyler poll that showed even wider support for adult-use and full medical cannabis legalization in Texas, Abbott reiterated his position on cannabis in Texas. Abbott stated that he proposes reducing marijuana possession to a Class C misdemeanor but does not support cannabis legalization in Texas, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.]]>