According to a recent survey from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs, most Texans are in favor of legalizing gambling and marijuana for recreational use.
More than 70% of Texans favor the legalization of “destination resort casinos” in the state, according to a study that polled 1,200 adults and had a 2.38% margin of error. Over 60% of people are in favor of marijuana sales and recreational use.
Legalization of THC and marijuana
The state legislature enacted House Bill 1325 in 2019, allowing industrial hemp cultivation as long as the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was less than 0.3%. Some promptly started selling THC cannabis products by taking advantage of this prohibition.
Participants in the latest UH study answered a range of questions about THC and marijuana products. The majority supported legalizing marijuana, but they also supported prohibiting the uncontrolled sale of THC products that are now available on the market because of the HB 1325 loophole.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said this week that one of his top priorities for the 2025 legislative season, which started in January, is to outlaw THC in Texas.
Below is a summary of some of the findings from the UH study:
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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.”
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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.”
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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.
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55% of Texans 48% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans support a “ban on the sale of consumable THC in Texas.
The survey indicated that age was a better determinant of Texans’ opinions on marijuana and THC than political membership, which was proven to be somewhat of a decisive factor.
According to the survey, 70% of Generation Z participants are in favor of a ban on the sale of THC products, compared to 49% of Generation X and 46% of Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation.
Sports betting and gambling
The study’s other main topic was the legalization of gambling and sports betting. The majority of Texans supported gambling and sports betting in one form or another, therefore there was less of a divide on these topics than there was on marijuana and THC.
Only lottery, charitable bingo, parimutuel betting on horse and dog races, and a small amount of gambling at three casinos owned by tribes are now permitted in Texas. However, with 39 states having legalized sports betting in one way or another, it has grown in popularity across the country. According to Axios, other measures have also been filed in Texas this year to specifically legalize sports betting.
The results of the UH study are broken down as follows:
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74% of Texans 74% of Democrats and 72% of Republicans support “legalizing the construction and operation of destination resort casinos in Texas.”
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60% of Texans 64% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans support legalizing online sports betting.
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56% of Texans 59% of Democrats and 55% of Republicans support legalizing sportsbooks in Texas stadiums and arenas.
