Poll: Majority of North Carolina Voters Approve of Cannabis Legalization

A SurveyUSA poll commissioned by WRAL News released Monday found 57% of North Carolina voters back adult-use cannabis legalization in the state, with 72% supporting medical cannabis reforms. The poll found 32% of voters opposed broad adult-use legalization, while 18% believed medical cannabis should not be legal.

Medical cannabis use was supported by 75% of Democrats polled, along with 64% of Republicans; 15% of Democrats and 26% of Republicans were opposed. Adult-use legalization was supported by 63% of Democrats and 45% of Republicans; with 26% of Democrats opposed along with 45% of Republicans, the poll found.

Young voters aged 18-34 supported adult-use legalization in the state 68%-23%, along with 64% of voters 35-49-years-old (29% opposed), 55% of voters aged 50-64 (33% opposed), and 37% of voters older than 65 (47% opposed).

Medical cannabis reforms were supported by 75% of 18-32-year-old voters (17% opposed), 76% of voters aged 35-46 (17% opposed), 72% of 50-49-year-old voters (16% opposed), and 65% of voters aged 65-plus (20% opposed).

A bill to legalize medical cannabis remains in the Rules and Operations of the Senate Standing Committee and could be considered when lawmakers return to the Capitol on May 18. The measure would allow patients to access the program if they are diagnosed with one of 11 qualifying conditions, any terminal illness where their life expectancy is less than six months or any condition when the patient is in hospice care.