A supermajority – 70% – of likely general election voters in Louisiana prefer regulation of hemp beverages as opposed to an outright ban, according to a survey conducted by polling and research firm Cygnal on behalf of the Louisiana Hemp Beverage Coalition. The survey found 47% of respondents preferred state-level regulation while 23% backed federal regulations.
Just 14% of respondents supported an outright ban, and 16% said they were unsure.
Another 60% of respondents said that the federal government should not ban products that the state already regulates, with about 20% saying they disagree. About 52% of those polled supported their member of Congress voting to repeal the upcoming federal ban on intoxicating hemp products, which is set to take effect in December. About 25% supported the ban.
The pollster found three messages tested strongest for supporting hemp beverages. The top-ranked overall message focused on the economic impact of the hemp beverage market, noting that the industry employs “thousands of workers and generate millions in tax revenue” and that “a federal ban would shutter these businesses, eliminate Louisiana jobs, and wipe out tax revenue. All without a proven public safety benefit.”
Among Republicans, the strongest message focused on low-dose safety: “Hemp beverages sold in Louisiana contain no more than 5 milligrams of THC per serving, roughly the equivalent of one or two beers. They do not produce the intense effects associated with marijuana and are commonly consumed in place of alcohol.”
For independents, the top ranked message explained that “hemp beverages are not marijuana” and are “made from federally legal hemp plants and contain a fraction of the THC found in marijuana. Banning them because of a misconception about what they are is just bad policy.”
After hearing the messaging regarding hemp beverages, opposition to the ban among voters swung from 40% to 50% and fell from 31% to 22% in support of the ban. Among Republicans, opposition to the ban went from 26% to 40% and support for the ban went from 45% to 29%.
Only 1% of those polled said hemp regulation was their top voting issue.
The poll included 504 likely voters and was conducted July 14 to 16.
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