71% of Virginia Voters Support Decriminalizing Cannabis According to New Poll
A large majority of Virginia voters support their state removing criminal penalties for the possession of small amounts of cannabis,
and a majority also support legalizing cannabis for medical use. This is according to a new Christopher Newport University poll released today.
According to the survey, 71% of voters in Virginia support decriminalizing “the possession of small amounts of marijuana by replacing the possibility of a criminal record and jail time with a civil fine”. Only 26% oppose the move.
The poll also found that 69% of voters support legalizing cannabis for medical use, with just 29% opposed.
Both legalizing medical cannabis, and decriminalizing cannabis possession, was found to be supported by a majority of voters regardless of age or party affiliation.
“The Virginia electorate appears to be ready to move on from the drug wars, at least as it relates to marijuana: to accept medical marijuana and to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana”, says Dr. Quentin Kidd, director of the Wason Center for Public Policy. “These views are in line with public opinion nationally, which sees the possession and use of marijuana as less a public policy problem than perhaps it once was”.
The full results of the poll can be found by clicking here.
– TheJointBlog