Begin quote from:

 

New poll: Texans favor more medicinal use of marijuana

Ever since Colorado legalized recreational use of marijuana two years ago, an inevitable question has arisen: Could it happen here? Could staunchly conservative Texas – once notorious for occasionally imposing lengthy prison …

• 
• Home
• Weather 63°
• Local
• Nation Now
• Traffic
• Sports
• Features
• About
• Photos
• Great Day
• Video
• Community
• 
  
• Search
• User

New poll: Texans favor more medicinal use of marijuana

Doug Miller, KHOU 11 News 11:15 p.m. CST February 28, 2016

(Photo: David McNew, Getty Images)

CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE

Ever since Colorado legalized recreational use of marijuana two years ago, an inevitable question has arisen: Could it happen here?
Could staunchly conservative Texas – once notorious for occasionally imposing lengthy prison sentences on young people convicted of marijuana possession – go the route of other states where peddling pot has become a burgeoning business?
Don’t hold your breath, but a new poll suggests a continuing trend in that direction.
Texas lawmakers have already legalized the use of cannabis oils for epilepsy patients.
And The Texas Tegna Poll indicates 71 percent of the state’s voters would support expanding medical marijuana treatments for patients suffering other health problems. Another 19 percent oppose the idea, while 11 percent aren’t sure.

The Texas Tegna Poll indicates 71 percent of the state’s voters would support expanding medical marijuana treatments for patients suffering other health problems. Another 19 percent oppose the idea, while 11 percent aren’t sure. (Photo: Tegna Poll)

“The fact that even Republicans, by a margin of almost 71 percent, support marijuana uses for medicinal health reasons I think suggests that this is where you’re beginning to see the trend,” said Bob Stein, KHOU’s political analyst.
But Texans apparently don’t want to see their state go as far as Colorado and other states that have legalized recreational use of dope.
Almost half of surveyed voters - 49 percent - oppose that idea, while 41 percent favor it and the remaining 10 percent are undecided.

Almost half of surveyed voters, 49 percent, oppose recreational use of marijuana, while 41 percent favor it and the remaining 10 percent are undecided. (Photo: Tegna Poll)

This latest poll dovetails with a pattern of surveys indicating Texans’ attitudes toward marijuana are softening with the passage of time.
A Texas Lyceum Poll conducted last year indicated voters were about evenly split on legalization, but slightly more voters favored than opposed it by a 50 percent to 46 percent margin.