Photo: Moment RF
A recent poll conducted by Baselice & Associates seems to show that as many as 62% of Republican primary voters support an all-out statewide ban on THC products in Texas. This comes after bipartisan backlash led to Governor Abbott vetoing a ban that was passed during the regular session.
So is the proposed THC ban, pushed by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, more popular with Republicans than previously thought? This poll appears to show that the answer is yes, but it might just be an outlier. With a sample size of just 501 GOP primary voters, it's hard to say for sure based on this poll alone.
One thing is for sure: even if some GOP primary voters support the ban, it's not a top priority for them. Political strategist Vlad Davidiuk says as far as priorities go, "Redistricting is at the top right now, and certainly responding to, and addressing the concerns with regard to the catastrophic flooding in the Hill Country."
Davidiuk also says that it doesn't appear voters are even really paying that much attention to the debate on THC, saying, "There was one poll that came out recently, and almost 75% of respondents considered themselves either just 'somewhat knowledgeable' or 'not knowledgeable at all' on THC."
A lack of knowledge on the subject might be a good explanation for the results of the poll, especially when you consider the questions asked:
THC is the primary intoxicating compound found in marijuana. The legislature is considering a bill which would ban all THC consumables, like vapes, edibles, gummies, and drinks. Which viewpoint about this THC bill comes closest to your own?
A - THC products need to be banned in Texas because we need to protect children and adults from dangerous THC products that are causing erratic behavior, severe mental and sometimes permanent brain damage, and even death.
B - THC products should remain available for sale in Texas because they offer Texans the freedom to get high for many people.
It's no surprise that option A ended up receiving 62% of the vote, with option B receiving just 30%, and another 8% of respondents saying they were unsure.
Davidiuk says that this all goes to show that while there might be an interest in discussing a THC ban, or more THC regulation, the legislature should at least make sure that top priorities like the aforementioned redistricting or flood relief are handled first.