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A new poll from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs found broad support among Texans for legalizing recreational marijuana and gambling.
The study, which surveyed 1,200 Texas adults and had a 2.38% margin of error, found that more than 70% of Texas residents support the legalization of “destination resort casinos” in the state. More than 60% support the sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes.
Marijuana and THC legalization
In 2019, House Bill 1325 was passed by the state legislature, which allowed hemp to be grown at an industrial scale as long as it contained less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Some quickly exploited this law to begin selling THC cannabis products.
The recent study by UH asked participants a variety of questions regarding both marijuana and THC products. While most people were in favor of legalizing marijuana, the majority were also in favor of banning the unregulated sale of THC products currently on the market due to the HB 1325 loophole.
Last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick listed banning THC in Texas as one of his top priority bills for the 2025 legislative season that began in January.
Here is a breakdown of some of the UH study’s findings:
62% of Texans — 71% of Democrats and 53% of Republicans — support legislation “that would legalize the sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes in Texas by those 21 and older.”
79% of Texans — 86% of Democrats and 75% of Republicans — support legislation that would legalize the sale and use of marijuana for “a wide range of medical purposes with a doctor’s prescription.”
69% of Texans — 79% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans — support legislation that would “decriminalize the possession of marijuana for personal use” for those over 21.
55% of Texans — 48% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans — support a “ban on the sale of consumable THC in Texas.
While political affiliation was found to be somewhat of a deciding factor in Texans’ views on marijuana and THC, age was found to be an even stronger indicator, according to the study.
Seventy percent of Generation Z members who took part in the survey support the ban on the sale of THC products, while 49% of Generation X and 46% of the Silent Generation/Baby Boomers supported such a ban.
Gambling and sports betting
The legalization of gambling and sports betting was the other major focus of the study. Compared to the issue of marijuana and THC, gambling and sports betting had less of a divide with the vast majority of Texans supporting it in one way or another.
Currently in Texas, only lottery, charitable bingo, parimutuel betting on horse and dog racing and very limited gambling at three tribe-owned casinos are legal. Sports betting, however, has become increasingly popular nationwide with 39 states having legalized it in some form. Several bills to legalize sports betting specifically have also been filed this year in Texas, according to Axios.
On the same day the UH study was released, The Houston Chronicle reported that Gov. Gregg Abbott had voiced support for legalizing sports gambling in Texas. Abbott made the comments during a yet-to-be-published episode of the newspaper’s “Texas Takes Podcast.”
“I don’t have a problem with online sports betting,” Abbott said, according to the Chronicle. “The reality is that I’d be shocked if there were not some Texans that do it already.”
Here is the breakdown of the UH study’s findings:
74% of Texans — 74% of Democrats and 72% of Republicans — support “legalizing the construction and operation of destination resort casinos in Texas.”
60% of Texans — 64% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans — support legalizing online sports betting.
56% of Texans — 59% of Democrats and 55% of Republicans — support legalizing sportsbooks in Texas stadiums and arenas.
Editors note: This article was updated on Jan. 5 to include the comments from Abbott regarding sports gambling in Texas.
“}]] The study, which surveyed 1,200 Texas adults, found that more than 70% of Texans support the legalization of “destination resort casinos” in the state and more than 60% support the sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes. Read More
