New Poll: 80% in Maryland Support Cannabis Decriminalization, Majority Supports Full Legalization
A new poll (the annual Goucher University poll) out of Maryland has found that an overwhelming majority of the state’s residents are in support of cannabis law reform. More specifically,
80% are in support of removing criminal penalties for cannabis possession, replacing the charge with a ticket; this is one of the first professional polls in any U.S. state to find support for such a move to be as high as 80%.
The poll also found that an eye-opening 9 out of 10 Marylanders support medical cannabis legalization. In the past legislative session Maryland lawmakers passed a watered-down medical cannabis proposal which legalized medical cannabis distribution and research, but only for those who follow a strict regulatory scheme which allows only acamedic research centers to grow or distribute cannabis to patients; advocates are hard at work attempting to pass an improved measure in the upcoming session.
In addition to these findings, the Goucher poll also found that a majority – 51% to be exact – of the state supports recreational cannabis legalization, with just 41% in opposition.
Because of these results, cannabis law reform “will be an issue to watch” in the upcoming legislative session, according to Mileah Kromer, Director of the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center at Goucher University.
– TheJointBlog
