Oct 08, 2013
poll, Public Policy Polling, Tax and Regulate, Texas
A poll conducted at the end of September shows that 58% of Texas voters favor taxing and regulating marijuana in their state. Texas
Removing the threat of arrest could be a momentous change for the nearly 1.5 million adult marijuana users living in Texas, where 68,758 adults were arrested for simple marijuana possession in 2007 alone. It is estimated that in 2006, Texas spent over $655 million on marijuana arrests, yet marijuana use continues to increase.
Rob Kampia, part-time Texas resident and MPP executive director, commented on the poll:
Marijuana prohibition has been just as big a failure as alcohol prohibition. Most Texans agree that marijuana sales should be conducted by legitimate businesses instead of drug cartels in the underground market.
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Law enforcement officials’ time would be better spent addressing violent crimes instead of adults simply possessing marijuana. No adult should face potentially life-altering criminal penalties for using a product that is significantly less harmful than alcohol.
You can read the full results of the poll here.