As laws become more lax, more people are lighting up
Marijuana is gaining social acceptance for its medicinal purposes, but its popularity goes far beyond that.
A look at 16,280 U.S. adults, as reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine, finds one in seven toked on a doobie last year. The study was examining the variety of ways by which people ingest marijuana today, given the broadening appeal of edibles and vaping, and found lighting a fatty is still the preferred method. More surprising was the number of people doing it.
“The cannabis industry across the country is slated to bring in billions of dollars, and Texas is missing out on that while we wait for legislators to take meaningful action,” says Heather Fazio, coalition coordinator for Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy.
More than 30 states and more than 50 municipalities, including Houston, have decriminalized to at least some measure possession of wacky tobacco, and most of those states have approved some means of obtaining medical marijuana. We have come a long way from the Cheech and Chong drug-centered humor of the 1960’s.
A Quinnipiac poll from April finds 93% of Americans approve of medical marijuana as support for legalization increases to 63%.
“And that is echoed here in Texas with over 80% of Texans wanting patients to have safe and legal access to medical marijuana,” says Fazio.
A University of Texas poll conducted with and published by the Texas Tribune shows the age breakdown of Texas support.