American voters support the general legalization of cannabis with a 54 to 41 percent majority, a Quinnipiac University poll released on Monday indicates. The nationwide poll was conducted May 24-30 using live interviewers, who called voters on their landlines and cell phones. 1,561 registered voters were interviewed.
Unsurprisingly, support for general legalization is split along party lines. Democrats support legalizing cannabis for adults with a 65 to 30 percent majority, while Republicans support the continuing of prohibition at 62 to 36 percent. However, only a majority of Republican voters and voters over 65 years old would vote against legalization, the poll authors note. “All other listed groups support legalizing marijuana, with white women tied 47 – 48 percent,” the authors wrote.
Pollsters also asked voters for their opinion on allowing adults to legally use marijuana for medical purposes when prescribed by a doctor, and found that 89 percent of poll respondents were in favor. Republican voters showed the least amount of support for medical legalization, yet boasted an 81 to 17 percent majority in favor.
Finally, Quinnipiac pollsters asked voters specifically about whether or not U.S. Veterans Administration doctors should be allowed to prescribe pill-form cannabis in states where it is legal to veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. A similar super majority (87 to 9 percent) was apparent, with only a slight dip in support among military households (82 to 13 percent).
“If you serve your country and suffer for it, you deserve every health remedy available, including medical marijuana in pill form. That is the full-throated recommendation of Americans across the demographic spectrum, including voters in military households,” said Tim Malloy, the poll’s assistant director.
“The response from voters should take political considerations out of the debate and allow doctors to do what’s best for veterans,” Malloy said.